Mutyambai fined Sh500,000 for ignoring Senate summons

The Senate has fined Police Inspector General, Hillary Mutyambai Sh500,000 for ignoring parliamentary committee summons.

Mutyambai had previously failed to attend before the Senate Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations committees three times to explain the evictions that were carried out in Pumwani households in Eastleigh, an exercise that was allegedly presided over by the police and National Metropolitan Services (NMS).

Members of the committee present included Senators Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Agnes Muthama (Machakos), Millicent Omanga (nominated) and Ngugi Isaac (Nominated).

“We are not going to stop at the fine. The IG must appear before this committee,” committee Chairman and Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang directed.

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen added that the committee wanted to ensure that the IG would pay the fine in his personal capacity.

“We want to have evidence that the money will come from his personal account and not public coffers,” Murkomen added.

The IG was summoned together with NMS Mohammed Badi and Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu to shed more light on the evictions.

Badi, who also failed to attend for the third time yesterday, issued a letter to the panel explaining that he was ill and had been hospitalized at Karen Hospital.

Senators, on the other hand, accused him of attempting to avoid the committee.

“This is not the first incident. He has evaded this committee two times before. Is someone trying to delay this process hoping that the term of this Senate is almost ending?” Murkomen posed.

The Nairobi City Water and Sewage staff was allegedly evicted from their residences last year to make room for a private developer, according to the Devolution Committee.

Senators have committed to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and ensure that the affected residents receive justice.

Farida Karoney, the Lands CS went before the committee early this month to present more information on the suspected land grabbing.

The committee requested copies of updated survey maps, deed plans, and any title to the contested land from the CS.

Karoney told the committee that she had visited the area in question the week before after senators asked her to do so and make a report on it.