The Senate Public Accounts Chairman and Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang want his colleagues, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Machakos Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior, barred from Representing Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko in court.
He felt that it was not right for the senators to represent Sonko despite Migori Senator James Orengo having previously represented someone in court and no one spoke about it.
“One wrong does not make the other wrong right.
“So we must all come out and draw clear lines that when you make a decision to ask the people to elect you to the Senate you know what your specific mandate is going to be.
“I cannot be the one sitting chairing the ICT committee whereas I am a media owner or practitioner …that we need to put up measures that will bar public and state officers from doing business situation that will constitute a clear conflict of interest,” Kajwang said in a press conference.
Murkomen and Mutula’s actions have brought into question their impartiality as senators and the likelihood of conflict of interest should the same governor appear in the Senate in future, where the senators will be required to cast their votes.
On their part, the senator/lawyers have defended themselves saying there is no written law that prohibits them from representing any client. And they are quite right.
Other legislators representing Sonko are Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo and Ben Momanyi (Borabu).
Other defence lawyers are Cecil Miller, Nelson Havi, George Kithi, Alphonse Mutinda, Osundwa Michael, Harrison Kinyanjui, Kwanga Mboya, and Felix Kiprono, among others.
The case will come up in court on January 15.
Conflict of interest debate: Emurua Dikir MP Johana Ngéno backed proposed legislation.
Ng’eno wants net cast wider to nab those in the executive.#CitizenWeekend pic.twitter.com/gZIeahOsxd
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) December 14, 2019