The image of PAC must be restored by making painful decisions

The image of PAC must be restored by making painful decisions

O

ne of the main functions of the parliament in a progressive democracy is to check the other arms of the government and to account for its own actions and inactions. The Kenyan parliament, through its Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is a letdown to Wanjiku.  Ordinarily, PAC is chaired by the Opposition (read Cord) in order to objectively question the ruling party or in our case the ruling coalition, Jubilee. That the Opposition PAC chair Ababu Namwamba is fending off bribery accusations is a major dent to the image of PAC and indeed the hallowed house of honour.

While Namwamba and his team should be given the benefit of doubt and presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, the legislators in the PAC should do the right thing although it may cost them. One, they can resign and allow investigations by the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) to continue without undue influence from PAC. Two, they can step aside and let their parties appoint fresh members so that it will be reconstituted in order to redeem the integrity of the PAC.

It will be hard for Kenyans to trust the commission as currently constituted to check financial impropriety given that it has lost moral ground to do so. We need confidence in our institutions so that we can have faith that they will deliver their mandates. If Namwamba and his team clear their names they can be reinstated. As I said, they are innocent till proven guilty so let’s not crucify them just yet. It could be a witch-hunt or just unfounded claims.

MUSYOKA NGUI, Kitui