Sabotage is a strong word to use when referring to the actions of a subordinate. And when the accused person is an executive minister who controls the public purse-strings, and his accuser the Prime Minister, co-ordinator and supervisor of Government functions, it is no small matter. Indeed, it is an ugly reminder of dysfunction and the failure of what was recently touted as a ‘whole Government’ approach to the Grand Coalition.
Through a statement released by a spokesman, PM Raila Odinga accused Deputy PM/Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta of "sabotage" for allegedly withholding funds for Kazi kwa Vijana stimulus programme projects. Uhuru’s response is that Sh2.3 billion has been released so far. Sh1.2 billion of this, we note, was released the same day the ‘sabotage’ accusation was reported. With the money being doled out in a quarterly basis, it was little more than one week late. However, if the original timetable for the kick-off of Phase II was followed, then we’re talking a few months. Whatever the case, we fail to fathom why it was necessary to spur Treasury to action with a public attack.
Professional government
Neither the thought that Uhuru (or others) are ‘fighting’ Raila or that the PM’s office considers appeals for public sympathy part of its modus operandi are reassu-ring. When President Kibaki and Raila launched a strategy for the PM’s office recently, citizens were promised a professional Government. We are yet to see evidence of one. Not with the squabbling over funding at the top. This cannot go on and must stop.
