---

---

Kenya: Why Two Booklets On Safaricom? Demands MP

8 May 2008

---

Nairobi — An MP claimed that two prospectuses were issued for the Sh50 billion Safaricom Initial Public Offering.

Mr John Mbadi (Gwassi, ODM), further claimed that the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) allowed Safaricom to release the two documents, one of which was not signed by its directors and external auditors as required by law.

The Gwassi MP demanded a ministerial statement from Finance minister Amos Kimunya on why CMA allowed Safaricom to release two prospectuses.

Information and Communications minister Samuel Poghisio gave an undertaking to pass the request to his Finance counterpart, who and assistant Oburu Oginga were absent.

Overruled

Mr Ababu Namwamba (Budalang'i, ODM) was overruled by deputy Speaker Farah Maalim on his demand for a ministerial statement from Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang'ula on why some friendly foreign countries' envoys were "meddling in Kenya's local affairs."

The deputy Speaker alerted the Budalang'i MP, who is in his first term, that parliamentary rules bar any member from discussing friendly States, unless they move a substantive motion.

Said Mr Maalim: "Our standing order says no member is allowed to discuss a friendly nation unless through a substantive motion."

Mr Namwamba had named US ambassador Michael Ranneberger as among the diplomats making public statements that, the MP claimed, eroded Kenya's sovereignty.

The deputy Speaker told members that all envoys accredited to the country were deemed to be from friendly States.

Be the first to Write a Comment!

---