Kenya's Labour CS Kazungu Kambi steps aside, claims accusers unhappy with his handling of NSSF

Cabinet Secretary for Labour, Social Security and Services Kazungu Kambi address after he stepped aside as the Cabinet Secretary to pave way for investigations by the EACC as directed by the President Uhuru Kenyatta. [PHOTO Moses Omusula/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Labour Cabinet Secretary Kazungu Kambi who has stepped aside from office for being mentioned in a graft report has claimed his accusers may be unhappy with him over his stance on the multi-billion shilling National Social Security Fund

Kambi claimed that the people behind the allegations of graft against him want him removed since he had sealed graft loopholes in NSSF.

"I have not yet been informed of the allegations against me but I suspect it is largely to do with NSSF. For many years, NSSF used to be a den of corruption but the NSSF of today is not the NSSF of yesterday. We have reformed it and sealed corruption loopholes," he claimed.

The CS said that some selfish personalities whom he did not name are fighting reforms in NSSF in order to continue milking the organisation through corrupt deals.

"Corruption in the Labour Ministry has been known for a long time, especially NSSF. But in the last two years, we have streamlined things and pushed some people out. These people may be behind these malicious claims against me," he said.

Kambi said that should he be cleared of the graft allegations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the persons behind the allegations against him should be prosecuted for peddling falsehoods

"We want this culture of people peddling allegations against others without any evidence to stop. Such people should also face the full force of the law. Being named in a report doesn't mean that I am corrupt but I support the directive to step aside 200 per cent," he said.

Kambi said that today, he will visit EACC offices to get a full picture of the allegations against him and prepare himself to address them once investigations formally begin.

Kambi said that even though he has not been charged for any graft cases, he decided to comply with the directive of the President to step aside in order to pave way for investigations... He denied that he has been compelled to step aside.

"When I am found to be corrupt, the solution is not only for me to be sacked but even to be killed just like the Chinese government does by executing people convicted of corruption," he said.

He demanded that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to complete its investigations against him within the stipulated 60 days saying he is eager to clear his name.

Kambi termed himself a "big fighter against graft "saying the allegations against him.

The CS claimed that he saved Sh1 billion tax payer's money from being stolen when he was Assistant Minister for Medical Services in the previous government.

He also cited his recent move to introduce biometric registration of thousands of Kenyans who receive monthly stipends from the government under the cash transfer programme. He said the initiative is set to cut out many corrupt persons who may have been receiving the cash fraudulently.

"I abhor corruption in all its forms since it adversely affects the economic development of the country and the fight poverty and inequality. Those who have been following my career in public life know that I strongly condemn corruption," he said.