Some 7years ago in Kenya...
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
OFFICIAL REPORT
Thursday, 26th April, 2007
The House met at 2.30 p.m.
[Mr. Deputy Speaker in the Chair]
April 26, 2007 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES Page 969
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
Question No.016
ACQUISITION OF NJABINI LAND BY MIDLANDS LTD
Mr. Owino asked the Minister for Lands:-
(a) under what circumstances the company by the name Midlands Limited acquired land at Njabini Farm; and,
(b) what portion of the land the company acquired, for what purposes and at what cost.
The Assistant Minister for Lands(Mr. Kamama): Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. After thorough and comprehensive investigations into this matter, the Ministry has established that hon. Kimunya is a director of this company---
(Applause)
Hang on! Hang on!
Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I also established that, on 8th February, 2006, hon. Kimunya had actually written a letter of resignation to Midlands Ltd. I also established that the secretary who was supposed to forward the letter to notify the Registrar of Companies actually did not do his job. So, hon. Kimunya---
Hon. Members: Liar! Liar! Uongo!
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members!
The Assistant Minister for Lands (Mr. Kamama): So, the information at the Registrar of Companies' office indicates that hon. Kimunya is a director of the company. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the only thing I want to clarify or know from the House is whether it is a crime to be a member of a company in this country. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
(Loud consultations)
(Mr. Mukiri stood up in his place)
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members! Will you sit down? This Question was almost concluded. In fact, there was only one final supplementary question remaining from Mr. Owino---
(Mr. Mukiri stood up in his place)
Will you sit down, Mr. Mukiri? There was only one final supplementary question remaining from Mr. Owino. Subsequently, a document was laid on the Table by Mr. Owino indicating that the Minister was, at that time---
Mr. Ojode: A land grabber!
Dr. Ali: Mwizi!
(Laughter)
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order! A document was laid on the Table by Mr. Owino indicating that the Minister was, at that time, a director of the company. Then, Mr. Kamama refuted that, which forced the Chair to ask the Clerk to seek clarification from the Registrar of Companies. The Registrar of Companies did actually write to us and gave us the details indicating that the Minister was a director. It is not a matter of whether it is a crime or not; that was not the issue! At that time, the Chair ruled that Mr. Kamama would have to go and look at the document and come to this House and apologise for giving misleading information.
(Applause)
That was the issue; it was not a matter of whether it is a crime or not! Mr. Kamama, you gave some information to the House and an hon. Member, and even the Registrar of
Companies, proved you wrong. So, here, we are just wasting a lot of time and we are not
here to revisit the matter! You gave the House misleading information and all you need to do is apologize to the House and we proceed!
Dr. Ali: Mwizi!
(Laughter)
Mr. Deputy Speaker:Order, Dr. Ali!
Mr. Kamama: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have stated my case; that, there was a letter which was written by the Minister---
Mr. Ojode: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order, Mr. Ojode, let the Assistant Minister finish!
Mr. Kamama: Hang on! I referred to the letter which was written by the Minister but the
information has not yet been reflected in the Registrar of Companies office and because of that, I wish to apologise. Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
Mr. Mukiri: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: The Assistant Minister has apologised. Therefore, I now move to the next point, which is to ask Mr. Owino to ask a question.
Mr. Owino: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir. The purpose for which that land was grabbed by the Minister then in the Ministry of Lands was to establish a potato factory to add value. Is the Minister aware that since then, the land has been divided into portions of four acres, and the original aim for which the land was grabbed has been moved to the former Minister's constituency and that the factory is now being built there?
Hon. Members: Shame! Shame!
(Several hon. Members whistled)
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order! Order!
Mr. Kamama: Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, whether the land was grabbed or not, I was not there to establish that fact. But that company has 14,000 members who are actually beneficiaries and they are Kenyans. So, I do not see--- I mean, a factory can be established anywhere in the country! What is the problem? Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir.
Mr. Deputy Speaker: Order! That is the end! Next Question!