A parliamentary committee will Wednesday question Interior CS Fred Matiang’i over the controversial replacement of GSU officers guarding Deputy President William Ruto’s residences.
Matiang’i will appear before the National Assembly’s Administration and National Security Committee even as Speaker Kenneth Lusaka downplayed a similar bid in the Senate.
Last week, GSU officers manning the DP’s official residence in Karen and his private homes in Nairobi and Uasin Gishu were withdrawn.
They were replaced by administration police officers in what was seen as a downgrading of his security details.
The panel chaired by Limuru MP Peter Mwathi will meet the CS at 10.30 am in an open session in Parliament Buildings.
In a letter addressed to Interior PS Karanja Kibicho through National Assembly clerk Michael Sialai, the committee invited Matiang’i and Police IG Hillary Mutyambai saying the matter is of national security concern.
“The committee has noted with concern the ongoing discourse around the security of the Deputy President and more specifically, the withdrawal of GSU officers manning his residences and deployments of APs,” the letter reads.
It adds, “In this regard, the committee has scheduled to meet the Cabinet secretary for Interior accompanied by the Inspector-General of Police.”
However, as the MPs question the CS, a similar push has hit a snag in the Senate after Speaker Lusaka rejected the bid.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei had petitioned the Speaker to recall the lawmakers to discuss the security fiasco which he termed as a matter of urgent national importance.
“The speaker has the powers to decide and this being a matter of urgent national importance, I wish to request you to convene a special sitting of the Senate on Thursday, September 2, to deliberate on this matter” the letter reads in part.
Cherargei wanted the legislators in the special sitting, to summon Matiang’i, Mutyambai, Presidential escort Commandant and General Service Unit Commandant.
He wanted the officers to state the reasons and circumstances that led to the withdrawal of GSU officers guarding the DP’s homes.
However, Cherargei on Tuesday upped his push for the special sitting after forwarding a list of 16 members who have signed his petition to recall the house to Majority leader Samuel Poghisio.
Senate Standing Orders state that either the Majority or Minority leader can petition the speaker to gazette a special sitting.
Such a bid must be endorsed by at least 15 members.
Senators are on a month-long recess and are set to resume plenary sessions on Tuesday next week.
However, Lusaka said that the Senate has no mandate to summon the CS and IG saying security remains a national government function whose oversight is under the National Assembly.
“People who call for special sittings are leaders of Majority and Minority. He should write to the leaders and they are the ones who know the procedures and the required number of senators to approve such a bid,” Lusaka said.
Yesterday, the Deputy President downplayed Parliament’s move to question Matiang’i saying the saga is a non-issue not worth parliamentary time.
“Parliamentary time should not be wasted on non-issues. The AP is a professional security service and those who think it’s a downgrade are wrong,” Ruto said on Tuesday.
He urged Parliament to focus on the deployment of security officers to the serious security situations in parts of the country where bandits are causing mayhem and destruction.
However, the DP’s office had earlier protested the replacement of the GSU officers and demanded explanations in a letter to the IG.
On Monday, Ruto posted pictures on his social media pages with his new security team at his official residence in Karen.
The security team comprising more than 10 officers was seen at the residence in a cordial informal meeting with Ruto.
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