The Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai has appealed to the Senate to pardon his Sh500,000 fine imposed for ignoring parliamentary committee summons.
Through a letter dated March 25, 2022, addressed to Senate clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye, Mutyambai pleaded with the Senate’s Devolution and Intergovernmental Committee to pardon him, claiming it was not his intention to miss the meetings.
“I hereby submit my humble appeal to the committee to set aside the penalty that was imposed on me.
Kindly accept my sincere apologies as it was never my intention to disobey your summonses,” Mutyambai said.
He had previously failed to appear before the committee three times to explain the evictions that were carried out in Pumwani households in Eastleigh, an exercise that was allegedly presided over by the police and National Metropolitan Services (NMS).
Members of the committee present included Senators Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Agnes Muthama (Machakos), Millicent Omanga (nominated) and Ngugi Isaac (Nominated).
“We are not going to stop at the fine. The IG must appear before this committee,” committee Chairman and Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang’ directed.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen added that the committee wanted to ensure that the IG would pay the fine in his personal capacity.
“We want to have evidence that the money will come from his personal account and not public coffers,” Murkomen added.
The IG was summoned together with NMS Mohammed Badi and Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu to shed more light on the evictions.
Badi, who also failed to attend for the third time on March 17, 2022, issued a letter to the panel explaining that he was ill and had been hospitalised at Karen Hospital.
Senators, on the other hand, accused him of attempting to avoid the committee.
“This is not the first incident. He has evaded this committee two times before. Is someone trying to delay this process hoping that the term of this Senate is almost ending?” Murkomen posed.
The Nairobi City Water and Sewerage staff were allegedly evicted from their residences last year to make room for a private developer, according to the Devolution Committee.
Senators have committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and ensuring that the affected residents get justice.
Farida Karoney, the Lands CS went before the committee early this month to present more information on the suspected land grabbing.
The committee requested copies of updated survey maps, deed plans, and any title to the contested land from the CS.
Karoney told the committee that she had visited the area in question the week before after senators asked her to do so and make a report on it.
