E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - House Rejects PAC Report On Anglo Leasing

Parliament yesterday rejected an audit report on the Anglo Leasing scandal tabled by the Public Accounts Committee.

Some opposition MPs teamed up with backbenchers allied to the Liberal Democratic Party to reject the report even after the mover, South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara, pleaded with them to adopt it.

"Even if my painfully born baby has been cut and mutilated, I ask Parliament to adopt it," said the former PAC chairman. Apparently, the MPs were protesting at the removal of Finance minister David Mwirarias name from the report on the Sh2.7 billion contract for the supply of terror-proof passports.

The report had blamed Mr Mwiraria and other senior Government officials for approving the contract even though the bidding companys address, directors and shareholders were unknown.

Mr Mwirarias name was erased from the report last week after an amendment by Water Resources minister Martha Karua to have his name expunged. The move caused a split in the House as MPs accused the Government of trying to protect one of its own.

Some Narc MPs voted against the move but the Government won narrowly with 31 votes against the oppositions 28.

And on Tuesday, Kanu unsuccessfully tried to bring an amendment to refer the report to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission. Debate on the report could not be concluded. Yesterday, Mr Magara spent less than five minutes to finish his contribution.

In his brief contribution immediately at the end of question time, Mr Magara asked the Government to take action against those adversely mentioned in the report. He said it was unfair to have expunged some names as it ended up diluting the report.

The opposition side won through acclamation. Earlier, in a communication from the Chair, Speaker Francis ole Kaparo had ruled that Mr Mwiraria had been invited properly, as a friend, to appear before PAC to explain his role in the procurement deal.

Mr Kaparo said the minister should not have ignored the invitation. He read a letter written by Parliament on behalf of the committee, asking Mr Mwiraria to appear before PAC.

The Finance minister had claimed that he was merely asked, and not summoned, to appear before the committee. He failed to present himself and instead asked MPs to visit him in his office.

On Tuesday, Kanu, through shadow Finance minister Billow Kerrow, failed in its attempt to move an amendment to have the report passed on to KACC.