Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has been suspended from Parliament for five sitting days after refusing to apologise over claims that public institutions were pressured to invest in the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) initial public offering.
Highlights
- Ndindi Nyoro has been suspended from Parliament for five sitting days.
- The Kiharu MP refused to apologise over his KPC IPO allegations.
- Nyoro claimed officials at public institutions received calls directing them to invest.
- Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed challenged him to provide evidence.
- Speaker Moses Wetang’ula ruled that Nyoro’s refusal amounted to gross disorderly conduct.
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Nyoro stands by KPC IPO claims
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has been barred from the National Assembly for five sitting days after refusing to withdraw claims he made concerning investments in the Kenya Pipeline Company IPO.
The confrontation followed remarks Nyoro made in Parliament on Tuesday, when he alleged that officials at several public institutions were pressured to participate in the KPC share offer.
Among the institutions he mentioned were the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Public Service Superannuation Fund (PSSF) and Kenya Re.
Nyoro alleged that calls from what he described as a “high office” were made to officials to encourage them to invest as the IPO approached the end of its subscription period.
Leaders demand evidence
The claims triggered a heated exchange in the National Assembly, with parliamentary leaders calling on Nyoro to either substantiate his allegations or apologise.
Minority Leader Junet Mohamed challenged the MP to table evidence showing that the alleged calls had actually been made.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah also disputed Nyoro’s assertions, pointing to documents concerning PSSF’s investment in KPC.
Ichung’wah said the fund had recorded a 5.1 per cent gain on its KPC investment as of June 30 and argued that Nyoro’s remarks could unfairly damage the reputation of professionals working in public institutions.
The two leaders called on the Speaker to require Nyoro to withdraw his remarks.
MP refuses to apologise
When directed to apologise, Nyoro declined.
The Kiharu legislator maintained that his statements were truthful and said he could not apologise for what he described as an obvious fact.
His refusal prompted Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to rule that he had engaged in gross disorderly conduct.
Wetang’ula subsequently imposed a five-sitting-day suspension, meaning Nyoro will not be allowed within the precincts of Parliament during the period.
Nyoro maintains his position
Speaking to journalists after the parliamentary session, Nyoro criticised the suspension and insisted that he had been punished for speaking about what he believed was the truth.
He argued that he had not been given adequate opportunity to present his evidence through parliamentary procedures.
Nyoro also maintained that political authorities should not influence investment decisions involving pension funds or independent institutions.
He repeated his claim that NSSF, PSSF and Kenya Re had been pressured to invest in the KPC IPO when the offer was nearing its deadline.
Questions over KPC investment
Nyoro further argued that the investment had not performed strongly enough, pointing to KPC’s share price and the country’s inflation rate.
He claimed the share was trading at around KSh9.02 and argued that the increase represented only a marginal return compared with inflation.
The competing positions have now placed the focus on the evidence behind Nyoro’s allegations, as well as the performance and decision-making processes surrounding institutional investments in the KPC IPO.
For now, Nyoro remains suspended from Parliament while the political debate surrounding his claims continues.
Nyoro’s suspension may end his participation in the House temporarily, but the bigger question remains: will evidence emerge to support the claims that sparked the parliamentary showdown?
