Committee Chairperson Sabina Chege claimed that her life was in danger after she received death threats from unknown people/FILE
Chaos reigned as MPs argued over whether to adopt the report of the Education Committee that rejected the nomination of Kiragu wa Magochi as chairman, and Albert Ekirapa, Jacinta Kapiyo, William Mwita Makubo, James Muthuri Nkoroi and Mwijuma Mwinyipembe as members of the TSC.
This is the second time Magochi is being rejected in Parliament after his nomination was turned down before Mwai Kibaki left office.
Committee Chairperson Sabina Chege claimed that her life was in danger after she received death threats from unknown people who were unhappy that she was ‘fighting one of her own’.
Chege, who is the Murang’a County Woman Representative managed to convince MPs to reject the nomination which now means that the President must submit a fresh list of nominees to the House after a fresh selection panel is constituted.
Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso rejected an attempt by some MPs who wanted to amend the motion such that the House could approve the nomination of the chairman but reject that of the commissioners.
She advised that MPs allow the debate and vote on the motion to go on and seek solutions on it later.
“Any member is advised to oppose a motion when the question is put, should the nays have it then it follows that the House will still be seized of the names forwarded by His Excellency the President,” she said. “In this case, any member will be at liberty to introduce a motion at a later date asking the House to approve any or all of the appointee in question.”
When debate resumed, Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, Kandara MP Alice Wahome and Kihara MP Irungu Kangata led the onslaught of those who wanted the nominees adopted.
“There is vested interest in this House which is meant to ensure that certain people are looked out,” Kamau said.
“The elephant in the house in this list – because we are punishing some innocent Kenyans – is Magochi, the chairman,” Wahome claimed. “The other elephant outside this house is Lydia Nzomo.”
“I feel for you, Coast, Nyanza. In all the appointments I have never seen a person from Coast, I have never seen a person from Nyanza I have never seen a person from Busia; but God is good, this is the only time that I am seeing them on this list so therefore join us in rejecting this list.”
Some MPs claimed that the committee was trying to bulldoze their recommendations to the rest of the House.
MPs rejected the nominees saying they lacked a mix of professionals with all the nominees having a background in education and did not include special interest groups.
Minority Leader Francis Nyenze led MPs Gladys Wanga, Dalmas Otieno, and Kimani Ichung’wah in supporting the committee’s recommendation urging the House to reject the nominees, have the job of TSC commissioners advertised afresh and new names brought to the House.
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