Ababu Namwamba, the cabinet secretary for sports, has apologized to the House of Representatives for drafting a letter to the Speaker requesting a hearing to address disputed matters brought up against his Ministry.
After Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wa raised concerns about the letter sent to Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula and Speaker of the Senate Amason Kingi and copied to the Majority Leader, Namwamba was compelled to apologize.
On the House floor, MP Kimani Ichung'wa drew attention to the fact that Namwamba had labelled the criticisms of his administration in the letter as "purporting" and "hearsay."
"The Attention of our ministry has been drawn to statements made by MP Kimani Ichungwa and Senator Simon Cherargei, respectively, which statements purport to cast aspersions on the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports," read part of Namwamba's letter. Hearsay is not admissible in legislative proceedings, and no one should be condemned in their absence or before they have been heard.
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The Majority Leader criticized the CS for suggesting that the lawmakers were raising issues based on "hearsay," calling the letter "condescending to the institution of Parliament."
Ichung'wa declared, "For the record, for this Cabinet Secretary and others, because some may be misled to believe that as leader of majority, I am here holding brief for Cabinet Secretaries, when it comes to matters of accountability, I will hold you to account as if I am the leader of minority, I will hold you to account as if I am the leader of majority,"
Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi agreed with the Majority Leader's criticism of the Sports Cabinet Secretary for attempting to give the House instructions on its duties.
Kajwang's question was, "And to allow this witness to write to the Speaker, where is even the protocol of writing to the Speaker?" Now, tell me how a witness decides to confront the presiding officer of this body and lecture him, getting up on a stool.
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Sports CS Ababu Namwamba issued an apology after the MPs' reprimand, saying: "Let me make it clear that the correspondence that has been referenced here was authored and conveyed in good faith and I would apologize unreservedly if in any way that letter has created wrong..."
So, with the utmost respect, I withdraw that email and send the honourable house an unqualified apology.
On Wednesday, Namwamba went before the National Assembly's whole body for questioning about claims that he failed in his duties at the Sports docket.
