Committee Ends Session Pre Maturely over Missing KPA MD

By Tobby Otum

The Parliamentary committee on transport was forced to end its sitting prematurely at the port of Mombasa in Mombasa county.

Committee temporary chairman Arama Samuel who is Nakuru Town MP was forced to end the sitting abruptly after members demanded to have acting Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] Managing Director Amb John Mwangemi appear in person.

Arama said they have resolved to have Mwangemi before the committee at an appropriate time in Nairobi.

He said the committee was not happy with the KPA representatives before them describing them as lower cadre employees despite KPA General Manager Operations and Harbour Sudi Mwasingo holding brief for Amb Mwangemi.

“We have pertinent emerging issues which require Mwangemi’s replies in person,” he pointed out.

He spoke during the adjournment of the session after pressure mounted from committee members Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim who is Wajir North MP, Dominic Kipkoech Koskei who is Sotik MP, Guyo Ali Wario who is Garsen MP and Kulow Maalim Hassan who is Banissa MP.

Arama and Omar Mwinyi who is Changamwe MP tried to put on a brave face for the meeting to continue but their arguments fell on deaf ears.

Mwasingo was flanked by KPA head of projects Kennedy Nyagah among others who declined to present themselves.

When the drama was unfolding Mwasingo and KPA public relations officer Haji Masemo were seen trying to salvage the situation by calling Mwangemi and handed over the phone to Arama.

But the move failed to yield fruit with Arama being pushed to the wall to adjourn the session.

Ibrahim, Koskei and Wario stuck to the quest insisting the acting MD must appear in person being the accounting officer.

Mwasingo tried his level best to convince the session that Mwangemi was in Kisumu on official duty and was asked to appear on his behalf but the committee dismissed his argument.

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