Kenyan Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro has been suspended from the precincts of Parliament for five days after declining to apologize for claims he made regarding the Kenya Pipeline Initial Public Offering (IPO). Nyoro, who represents the Kiharu constituency, made the claims during a plenary session on Tuesday, alleging that phone calls from "high offices" were made to officials at several state-owned entities, including the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the Public Service Superannuation Fund (PSSF), to invest in the IPO.
The allegations led to a heated debate in the House, with lawmakers demanding that Nyoro provide evidence to support his claims or apologize for making them. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula directed Nyoro to apologize, but the lawmaker refused, citing that his statements were true. Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed had urged Nyoro to apologize, stating that his claims were unfounded and had the potential to injure the reputation of professionals working in public offices.
Nyoro's claims centered on allegations that public offices were pressured into investing in the Kenya Pipeline IPO, which he claimed was struggling near the close of the investment period. He alleged that the investments made by these entities have yielded sub-optimal returns, citing that the current share price of Kenya Pipeline is Ksh. 9.02, representing a 0.2% growth, which is lower than the current inflation rate of 6%. Nyoro emphasized that it is wrong for political offices to direct investments by pensioners or independent bodies.
The Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, subsequently suspended Nyoro from attending parliamentary sessions for five days, citing gross disorderly conduct. Wetangula described Nyoro's behavior as unhelpful and stated that many in his position have encountered similar situations. The suspension was the most lenient punishment provided for under parliamentary rules.
Following the suspension, Nyoro addressed a press conference, expressing his disappointment and characterizing his suspension as unfortunate. He maintained that he was not trying to be a rabble-rouser but wanted to speak the truth. Nyoro vowed to continue scrutinizing the management of public resources in the country, emphasizing that he would not betray the trust placed in him as a leader.
Nyoro also criticized President William Ruto, stating that he would not be swayed by attempts to buy him off or compromise his integrity. He urged state-owned entities, such as the NSSF, Kenya Re, and PSSF, to adhere to the Constitution and not be influenced by political directives when making investment decisions.
The suspension of Ndindi Nyoro has sparked debate on the limits of free speech in Parliament and the accountability of public officials. As a member of the Kenyan parliament, Nyoro's actions have raised questions about the extent to which lawmakers can hold others accountable for their actions while also being held to a high standard of conduct themselves.
Key points
- - Kenya's Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro suspended for 5 days - Nyoro made claims that public offices were forced to invest in the Kenya Pipeline IPO - Nyoro refused to apologize for his claims leading to his suspension
