The committee ,chaired by Fox Odoi, invited Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi to appear before the committee to give his view on contempt of Parliament following refusal by Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi and Eng. Hillary Onek to step aside over alleged oil bribery claims.

The matter on whether the two ministers’ refusal to step aside was contempt of Parliament was referred to the committee by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.

The committee held a closed door meeting with Ssekandi, where Hon. Odoi apologized to him for summons to appear before them however some legislators on the committee revealed that the Vice President told them that the committee has no powers to summon him in his current capacity.

Odoi later admitted to journalists that there had been an error in summoning Ssekandi but the committee will instead go to him to seek his counsel on the matter since he was a former Speaker of Parliament.

Meanwhile, he revealed that the committee will finalize cross examination of witnesses, among them former Kenya speaker, Francis ole kaparo , retire judge George kanyeihamba and renown lawyer prof . Fredrick sempebwa expected to give their views.

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Onek, who appeared before Parliament’s Rules, Privileges and Discipline committee this morning, contends that there are no provisions in the law requiring him to do so, adding that the resolutions passed in Parliament last month, calling for his resolution following the claims are merely advisory.

Onek was invited to the committee to make his case for not stepping aside following a petition tabled before the House by Kween County MP, Chemaswet Kisos for him, as well as Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi to do so.

Onek told the MPs his conscience told him not to step aside and that he had consulted with the NRM party and his constituents, who both advised him to continue holding his portfolio.

Asked by the committee chairman, Fox Odoi on whether the resolution on resignation was not binding, Onek explained that he can only step aside if ordered to do so by the appointing authority and attempts by Parliament to do so were not right.

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Segona announced this today while this committee was meeting the Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi although he was not happy with chairperson decision  for his dismissal from the committee earlier.

Segona said that he is stepping aside from the committee as asked by the chairperson because of his earlier debate on the floor of parliament this matter under investigation to do what the prime mister should have done when asked to step down.

He said that he will love to appear before the same committee as a witness to justify why the two ministers acted in contempt of parliament.

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