Politics
Agriculture minister William Ruto at a past event.
The minister might face a censure motion in Parliament on Tuesday. PHOTO/ FILE In Summary Agriculture minister William Samoei Ruto is expected to face a trying week in his political career when a motion of censure filed by Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale comes before the House Business Committee (HBC) on Tuesday evening. Sources close to the HBC confirmed that the motion by Dr Bonny Khalwale would be given priority. Should the HBC sanction the motion, it could come up for debate as early as next Wednesday afternoon. Such motions are given priority by the House Business Committee, a minister who is a member of the Committee told the Sunday Nation. Dr Khalwale filed the censure motion last Wednesday, accusing the Agriculture minister of failing to give satisfactory answers over the disappearance of more than one million bags of maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB). The Ikolomani MP had earlier tabled documents in Parliament linking an insurance company associated with Mr Ruto to the purchase of gunny bags for the Board. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Farah Maalim rejected some of the documents. The maize scandal, which was first exposed by the Sunday Nation last December, has been the subject of debate by Parliament over the last four weeks. Last month, the Government declared the famine situation facing the country a national disaster after it said at least 10 million Kenyans are facing hunger. The HBC, which is chaired by the Vice-President who also doubles as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, meets every Tuesday when Parliament adjourns its business for the day to set the agenda for the rest of the week. Mr Ruto is also a member of the Committee which also includes deputy Prime ministers Musalia Mudavadi and Uhuru Kenyatta, ministers Amos Kimunya, Anyang Nyongo, Kiraitu Murungi, Charity Ngilu and George Saitoti. Others include Henry Kosgey, Sally Kosgey, Najib Balala, Mutula Kilonzo and Moses Wetangula. Also in the committee are assistant minister James Magara and Adan Mahmoud together with the two whips George Thuo and Jakoyo Midiwo. Wajir west MP Aden Keynan is also a member of the Committee. Dr Khalwale, who gave notice of his motion, told the Sunday Nation that he was waiting for the nod from the HBC on the fate of the motion. He however said it enjoyed overwhelming support among MP. While Mr Ruto will be hoping that the motion does not end up on the floor of Parliament, a similar motion against Mr Kimunya filed by the same Dr Khalwale was a subject of debate by the House last year despite the Trade minister being a member of HBC. Losing ground Signs that the Agriculture minister was losing ground were evident last Monday when Prime Minister Raila Odinga called for an international forensic audit of the NCPB activities. Later the same evening, ODM ministers and assistant ministers met in Mr Odingas office at Treasury to discuss the scam. Agriculture minister William Samoei Ruto is expected to face a trying week in his political career when a motion of censure filed by Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale comes before the House Business Committee (HBC) on Tuesday evening. Sources close to the HBC confirmed that the motion by Dr Bonny Khalwale would be given priority. Should the HBC sanction the motion, it could come up for debate as early as next Wednesday afternoon.
Such motions are given priority by the House Business Committee, a minister who is a member of the Committee told the Sunday Nation.