CS John Mbadi, Treasury Officials Snub Senate Summons on Ksh 48B Project
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi was one of three leaders who ignored a summons to appear before the Senate Energy Committee on Tuesday.
Mbadi was expected to address concerns over alleged irregularities related to the construction of the Mombasa-Nairobi Pipeline (Line 5), as lawmakers sought clarity on the matter.
Committee members voiced their frustration over Mbadi’s no-show, a situation made worse by the absence of an apology or explanation from the Treasury Secretary.
“The Cabinet Secretary for Treasury, John Mbadi, did not provide any reasons for skipping his appearance before the Senate Energy Committee,” said Wahome, as shared on Parliament’s official social media platforms.
In addition to Mbadi, the committee had summoned Kenya Pipeline Managing Director Joe Sang, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) Director General Patrick Wanjiku to provide insights on the issue.
Sang, however, sent an apology, informing the committee that he was on official duty in Saudi Arabia.
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Auditor General Gathungu sent a representative, but the committee rejected them, citing that the representative was not authorized to act on Gathungu’s behalf. Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina noted that the representative had not taken the oath of office and therefore could not officially represent Gathungu.
As a result, the committee decided to allow the summoned officials to attend at a future date.
In his role as Finance Minister, Mbadi was expected to offer a comprehensive explanation addressing questions from various stakeholders about the Mombasa-Nairobi Pipeline (Line 5).
The Mombasa-Nairobi Pipeline, known as Line 5, is a vital project managed by the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) that was inaugurated in 2018. The pipeline was built to improve the transportation of refined petroleum products between Mombasa and Nairobi.
Covering a distance of approximately 450 kilometers, Line 5 was designed to replace the aging Line 1, ensuring more efficient and dependable fuel delivery to Kenya’s inland areas.
With a capacity to transport up to 1 million liters of petroleum products per hour, Line 5 greatly reduces the reliance on road transportation, cutting down on logistical expenses and minimizing the risks linked to fuel trucking.
CS John Mbadi, Treasury Officials Snub Senate Summons on Ksh 48B Project
