NAIROBI, July 31 – Former Finance Minister Amos Kimunya was on Thursday reprimanded in Parliament for taking the Grand Regency debate outside the House.
Kimunya had told a public gathering in Kinangop, attended by the Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, that a vote of no confidence against him would not have succeeded had Marende been in the House when the vote was conducted.
Members of Parliament expressed their lack of confidence in Kimunya earlier in July over his role in the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel, effectively forcing him to resign.
“In making the statements, the Kipipiri MP went against an earlier ruling made by the Speaker that any debate on the sale of the Hotel be stopped until the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Trade completed investigations,” ruled Marende.
The committee finished its formal interviews on Monday and is to submit a report to Parliament next Thursday.
The Speaker termed the remarks by Kimunya as ‘far fetched, speculative and un-acceptable’.
He justified Parliament’s action, stating that all procedures were properly followed before the motion was debated.
“Mr. Kimunya conducted himself in a most disgraceful and unsatisfactory manner, calling to question the conduct of the Speaker and Parliament,” Marende ruled.
Gem Member of Parliament (MP) Jakoyo Midiwo had expressed disapproval of the remarks saying the former Minister had sought to clear his name over the Grand Regency sale during the public rally.
Midiwo, who is a member of the Committee on Finance and Trade, had told the House on Tuesday that Kimunya had tried to influence the outcome of their investigation with his statement and sought a ruling from the Speaker over the matter.
Making his ruling, Marende also urged parliamentarians to strictly desist from commenting on House business outside Parliament.
The Speaker said: “Taking debate outside the House lowers its dignity and brings it proceedings into disrepute.”
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