Africa
Kenya deputy speaker rebukes call for investigation
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Mar 4, 2010 - 8:27:20 AM

Kenya’s parliament deputy Speaker Farah Maalim has rebuked a written protest note by Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang’ula that calls on a parliamentary committee to investigate his activities while on official tour to Somalia’s self-declared republic of Somalia.
 
Maalim said as a deputy speaker, he is not obliged to give out details of the trip, which he led a delegation of parliamentary committee to disputed town of Las Anod in Sool region.
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"I have no obligation to write to Mr Wetang’ula or the Executive over my trip because Parliament works independently from the Executive," he was quoted as saying,
 
He added that Wetangula, who is an accomplished lawyer should have understood that the deputy speaker, according to parliament laws, is head of house committees.
 
"If an issue arises, the fate of the Speaker and that of his Deputy can only be decided by the House and not departmental committees," he noted.
 
Maalim promised to table a report about his trip before the parliament.
 
The deputy speaker's trip to disputed region has attracted controversy as the government of Somalia’s Puntland state has strongly condemned, terming it as interference of the affairs of Puntland and entire war-torn Somalia.
 
Well informed sources within Puntland government have told Garowe Online that the embattled Maalim has requested to visit Garowe, the administrative capital of Puntland declined his request.

GAROWE ONLINE


http://www.garoweonline.com