Nyoro suspended over pipeline IPO claims

The Kiharu MP refuses to apologise after alleging political pressure forced public funds into a near-failing Kenya Pipeline share offer

By Annete Njeri

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro was yesterday suspended from Parliament for five sitting days after refusing to apologise for claims that public institutions were pressured by a high office to invest in the Kenya Pipeline Company IPO.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula issued the suspension following a heated plenary session in which Nyoro declined to retract allegations he had made the previous day — that phone calls from a senior office directed the National Social Security Fund, the Public Service Superannuation Fund and Kenya Re, among others, to invest in the IPO as it neared failure at the close of its investment window.

Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and Minority Leader Junet Mohamed both called on Nyoro to either table evidence or withdraw. “If he has none, he should just apologise,” Junet said. Ichung’wah argued the allegations were capable of injuring the reputations of professionals serving in public institutions diligently.

Nyoro was unmoved. “What I stated is the truth, and the truth rides higher than the rules. I cannot apologise for the obvious,” he told the Speaker.

Wetangula responded firmly: “You are now guilty of gross disorderly conduct. This kind of conduct is totally unhelpful.”

Speaking outside the chamber, Nyoro maintained his position, noting the Kenya Pipeline share price stood at KSh9.02 — a 0.2 percent gain against inflation running at 6 percent. “The investments have proven sub-optimal,” he said.

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