The decision by National Assembly to summon Ethics and Anti-corruption Secretariat early next year following reports that a section of MPs were taking home mileage allowances through pretense has been faulted by nominated Senator Janet Ong’era.
Speaking in her Bobasi backyard, Ong’era said National Assembly was misusing its powers by ‘condoning’ corruption.
She said MPs should allow the EACC and office of Public Prosecution Director do their jobs without interference or intimidation.
“I am shocked that MPs have summoned EACC secretariat and DPP after a damning report about pretense in acquisition of allowances. They should desist from using their powers wrongly and allow those offices to do their jobs without intimidation,” she said.
Ong’era said the move was a blow to fight against corruption and urged leaders to walk the talk by working with independent institutions to whip out corruption.
“Our country has even gone global on corruption. As parliament, we should be on the frontline to fight the menace and not being impediments to various investigatory agencies,” she added.
She said the war on corruption was likely to be lost if MPs used their powers to block investigations and pleaded with both Cord and Jubilee leadership to intervene.
“This isn’t the first time the National Assembly is being mentioned on engaging in corruption. No one is above the law and they have to allow EACC prove its allegations without summoning them. It's time both leadership in the house intervened and saved the war on corruption,” she said.
MPs had on Wednesday threatened speaker Justin Muturi of impeachment if he failed to decline EACC report that implicated MPs of cheating to receive allowances from PSC on travelling, sitting and other mileage allowances even after reportedly not having attended committee sittings or travelled upcountry.