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Senate team probes Uhuru’s aborted US trip


The Senate has launched investigations into President Uhuru Kenyatta’s aborted trip to the United States last week.

This comes after members demanded a detailed explanation on why the journey was cut short mid-air on Thursday.

The House on Tuesday tasked the Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations to thoroughly look into the matter.

SAFETY COMPROMISED

The senators also want to know if the President’s safety was compromised when the plane was forced to return to Kenya before reaching Dubai.

The committee, chaired by Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji (TNA), will investigate whether the head of State’s life was in danger before and when the plane flew back to Kenya.

The team will interview top officials in charge of the President’s security.

Nyandarua Senator Muriuki Karue (TNA) on Tuesday demanded a statement from the government on the aborted trip. State House claimed it was because of the heightened civil war in Yemen.

Mr Karue listed six points he wants the committee to respond to in the report it will table in the House in 14 days.

 

“I want to know the objectives of the President’s trip to the US, the scheduled itinerary, why the flight was aborted mid-air and the number of persons in the plane,” said Mr Karue.

DISCIPLINARY MEASURES

The House will also be informed of the actions taken to ensure the people on board were safe and the disciplinary measures taken against officers who failed to apply measures to avoid such an experience.

The panel is expected to summon Cabinet secretaries Amina Mohammed (Foreign Affairs), Raychelle Omamo (Defence) and Joseph Nkaissery (Internal).

Senators on Tuesday said the cancellation of the trip had greatly embarrassed the President and the nation. They said the officials responsible for this should face disciplinary action.

Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-Kenya) said a presidential flight is not an ordinary one as it requires high-level coordination.