John Mbadi reveals MPs received hundreds of thousands from key witness in the poisonous sugar scandal

janet ndila

July 7, 2018 10:30 AM

Each MP received Sh300000-Sh500000 to defend witness in poisonous sugar scandal -Mbadi

ODM chairman John Mbadi has revealed that MPs pocketed hundreds of thousands of shillings in the ongoing contraband sugar investigations.

The Suba South MP who was addressing the parliament on Thursday stated that he had reports to the effect that MPs received between Sh300000 and Sh 500000 from a key witness in the poisonous sugar scandal so as to defend them in parliament.

“…like in the sugar thing, one witness is said to have given some members Sh300,000 each. We are told also that another officer gave some MPs who are not even members of the committee Sh500,000 each to go and defend them,” Mbadi said.

The legislator revealed that MPs have turned parliamentary committees into money-making opportunities and are profiting heavily at the expense of the public.

The Thursday session was not short of drama as Majority leader Aden Duale pointed out that parliamentary committee members were hobnobbing with witnesses and suspects.

“Committee sittings have become a parade where you cannot distinguish witnesses, suspects and MPs. We have seen these members on live television hugging, embracing and exchanging pleasantries with accused persons who appear before them. This has left the public with a negative perception," Duale said.

Duale was referring to the ongoing contraband sugar investigations in which some members of the Trade and Investments committee were spotted exchanging pleasantries with billionaire Jaswant Rai who had been summoned to give evidence on the contraband sugar.

Amidst concerns that some MPs are compromised by witnesses to either defend them or be their ‘mouthpieces’ when they appear before committees of Parliament, Speaker Justin Muturi declared that members of the committee would be investigated for their conduct.

janet ndila