NAIROBI, Kenya Oct 18-A storm erupted in the Senate following revelations by Kakamega Senator Boniface Khalwale questioning the procedure undertaken by Senate Adhoc Committee investigating Shakhahola deaths to visit Pastor Ezekiel Odero church without parliamentary approval.
Senator Khalwale cast aspersion on the claims by the Tana River Senator Danston Mungatana led committee that they catered for their own expenses during their fact-finding mission in New Life Prayer Centre due to time constraints and delayed disbursement.
The Senate Majority Whip alluded to credible information of how the standing orders were violated before Senators embarked on the trip Pastor Odero’s church threatened to spill the beans on who sponsored the trip.
On Monday, the committee led by its chairman, Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana, was in Mavueni to inspect the church following Pastor Ezekiel’s testimony before the committee on Friday.
“Pronouncement made by the committee members trying to persuading us that they sponsored themselves to dissuade us from being angry. In the history of this country, no member of parliament or a group of members of parliament have ever sponsored themselves to undertake the business of the house,” said Khalwale.
The Kakamega Senator decried that it was unfortunate that the committee members were hosted by a witness being investigated not just by the committee, but by the State over a number of crimes.
Pastor Odero is currently out on bail, he is being investigated for at least 14 offenses which includes aiding suicide, murder, abduction, radicalization, Genocide, crimes against humanity, child cruelty, fraud and money laundering.
“Members of the committee have spoken to members of this house include this house.If am pushed I will tell the name of the Senator who brought me on the loop of this matter,”Khalwale noted.
According to standing orders a sitting of the Select Committee shall be held at such a time and place, date and time shall be determined by the Chairperson or on a petition made by at least five members of that committee.
The House rules provide no meeting of the committee may be held outside the precincts of parliament without the approval of the Speaker.
Further, questions have been raised on why Senators visited Mavueni,Kilifi County without the Secretariat who include the Clerks, Researchers and Hansard Officers which is a critical requirement for the mandate of the committee.
Adhoc committee defence
Senate Adhoc Committee Chair dispelled rumors that the trip to Pastor Odero’s church was sponsored by the controversial preacher who is a man of interest in the ongoing investigation insisting that they left the secretariat behind due to budgetary and time constraints.
“We did not have time that is why the team was ready to travel and come and make the claims later. We did not have the clearance for the reason that at the time of going we did not have the funds, but we made sure that everything that we observed was captured,” Mungatana stated.
“We agree it was not possible to have been given another especially because of budgetary constraints. Kenyans you will be proud of the work we have done and this senate will stand tall irrespective of the people that are trying to throw aspersions,” he added.
Mungatana remained cagey to explain why they proceeded without approval adding that influential forces were frustrating efforts to unveil the truth over Shakhahola deaths that has so far claimed over 350 lives.
“The national forensic laboratory that is under DCI has been frustrated beyond even performance by the very people who are sponsoring negative articles because they know the bombshell we are going to lay in this house, but tell the executive arm of government that we will expose them for who they are,” he stated.
On a point of order, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei denied claims that he was part of the tour to New Life Prayer Centre after the Tana River Senator mentioned him having participated in the grilling of the controversial preacher.
“This is a very sensitive and emotive matter and dragging the holy name of Senator Cherargei is very dangerous. I was present before the precincts of Parliament when the witness appeared. I was not present in Mavueni, Kilifi so that people don’t get confused. I was not part of it, please I cannot be the among the innocent people who will be crucified with Jesus,” Cherargei said.
Ruling on the matter, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi indicated that the conduct of the Senate Adhoc committee during the Mavueni visit is being investigated and it will be handled administratively.
“There are matters that are better handled administratively and others handled through the plenary, this one is one such matter that should be handled administratively,”
“I have already engaged the gears of our administrative offices, its being handled, but safe to say that the integrity of parliamentary process will always be withheld,”said Kingi.
Odero’s link
The fact-finding mission by the Senate ad hoc committee investigating the Shakhahola deaths and proliferation of churches has raised eyebrows over conflict of interest after it emerged that it was funded by pastor Odero.
The Senate Committee is expected to table the report concerning its findings before the House on Thursday this week.
Details have emerged that their visit to Pastor Ezekiel Odero’s New Life Prayer Centre and Church in Mavueni, Kilifi county yesterday was not funded by the Senate but the New Life Prayer Centre Pastor who is a man of interest in the matter.
The Senate Adhoc committee visited the church premises even as Odero and his church are accused of indoctrination and mass murder.
On Friday, Pastor Odero had offered to ferry a Senate Committee to the Coast to his church in the ongoing probe into Shakhahola deaths. He promised to cater for all the expenses for senators who would be on that trip.
“I will pay for you to come and see what we do. I pray from the bottom of my heart that the chair of the committee convinces the members to come,” Ezekiel said.
The 11-member senate ad-hoc committee was formed to investigate the proliferation of churches in the country and the circumstances that led to the deaths of over 350 faithful of the church linked to Pastor Mackenzie.
The senators are seeking to establish the registration status of religious institutions in the country and identify the mitigation measures in place to regulate them and combat extremism.
The Senate committee is expected to carry out an audit of the legal and registration framework for religious organizations in the country. Consequently, it will develop a legislative proposal on regulating religious activities and make any other recommendation that will prevent religious organizations from extreme indoctrination of their followers including radicalization, spiritual and financial exploitation.
