Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung’u risks Ksh.500K fine for snubbing parliamentary summons

The CS was scheduled to appear before the committee on Thursday to explain the role of the ministry in procuring Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that have been largely blamed for high cost of power.

Njuguna was also expected to give insights into the process of issuance of letters of support to the IPPs.

However despite writing to the committee on Wednesday confirming his attendance, the CS was a no show, leaving members of the committee frustrated. He has snubbed three previous summons.  

"The CS wrote to us to be here at 9am, we left our engagements to be here is condescending, I think it's a total waste of time to listen to them, they should just go back,” said Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo on Thursday. 

His Nambale counterpart Geoffrey Mulanya also lamented how he had to reschedule his activities to be at the committee only for the CS to fail to show up. 

The committee chair Vincent Musyoka had no choice but to postpone the meeting as the members refused to listen to the officers. 

"This is the third time the CS is refusing to appear, we have given him lots of chances, but having written yesterday confirming appearance and then failing to, is not respectful to the committee. The CS will be summoned to appear on a date to be confirmed, this is not an invitation anymore," Musyoka said. 

The committee is investigating the high cost of power in the country, and IPPs are suspected to be one of the major contributors of Kenyans paying highly for power.