Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u, the Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS), may be fined Ksh—500,000 for ignoring a summons to appear before the National Energy Committee in the National Assembly.
The CS was expected to appear before the committee on Thursday to discuss the ministry's role in hiring Independent Power Producers (IPPs), who have generally been held responsible for the high cost of electricity.
Njuguna was also supposed to provide information on how letters of support are issued to IPPs.
The committee members were furious when the CS failed to appear despite writing to them on Wednesday to confirm his attendance. He has turned down three prior summonses.
"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.
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Geoffrey Mulanya, a colleague from Nambale, expressed regret about having to alter his plans to attend the committee only for the CS to be absent.
Because the committee members wouldn't listen to the officials, committee head Vincent Musyoka was forced to postpone the meeting.
"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 looking into why electricity is so expensive in the nation, and IPPs are a significant factor in why Kenyans pay so much for it.
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