Duale faults coast MPs bid to impeach CS Macharia

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Likoni MP Mishi Mboko :PHOTO file

A section of Mombasa county legislators are at loggerheads with Majority leader Aden Duale and the National Assembly transport committee chair David Pkosing over the impeachment bid facing transport cabinet secretary James Macharia over Mombasa port.

Trouble started when Pkosing issued a statement in parliament, backing Macharia’s decision of upholding a directive to see all goods from the port of Mombasa transported using standard gauge railway as from June 1st this year, an assertion coastal MPs have vehemently opposed.

“It wasn’t an individual directive from the minister, he was only implementing directive from the state, “Pkosing said

Likoni member of parliament Mish Mboko argued that the move is unfair following the fact that the CS did not involve any stakeholder and coastal people who will ultimately bear the brunt by losing jobs when the directive will be in place.

“We know there is COVID-19, but there was a need to have a meeting, that these directives are being implemented because of COVID 19, and what strategies are in place how to help coastal people. How long the directive will be in place.”Mboko said

But, Duale accused the coastal MPs of failing to follow the proper procedure to impeach Macharia echoing Pkosing assertion that CS was implementing cabinet directive and the move did not emanate from the transport ministry.

“Those who are purporting to collect signatures are violating the house procedure, you cannot impeach the minister on a decision of the cabinet,” Duale said

“The impeachment must be in tandem with the role of the minister,” Duale added

Nyali MP Mohammed Ali gave the notice to table a motion seeking to remove Transport CS James Macharia from office over his order to use the SGR to transport cargo from Mombasa to Naivasha ICD.

Ali said in a notice dated June 6 said that the CS violated Article 10(1) (c) of the Constitution by not undertaking public participation with leaders and stakeholders.

He has strongly opposed the CS,s move saying that it will severely affect the transportation sector and coastal people as a whole thus forcing some companies to shut down. “It is deeply concerning that the Cabinet Secretary continues to disregard stakeholders in the implementation of ministerial projects by not conducting any participation,” Ali said.

Last month, Macharia announced all cargo destined for Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan will be transported via the SGR for clearance at the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD) starting June 

Macharia said that such a move will reduce interactions along the Northern corridor and help in the containment of Covid-19.

Upon implementation will be mandatory for all cargo imported through the Port of Mombasa to be transported through SGR.

Ali terms the move as gross misconduct and misuse of his office and he ought to be removed from office by violating Article 73 of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.

On the other hand, Nyali mp’s impeachment bid has been downplayed by the ODM Minority Whip in the National Assembly Junet Mohamed.

Junet said that the party does not support the motion and MPs should avoid appending their signatures to it.

“Kindly note that the party/coalition does not support this purported motion and members are urged to desist from appending signatures,” Junet said.

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