The Jubilee administration came under sharp criticism over corruption during FORD-Kenya’s General Council meeting in Nairobi yesterday.
Opposition politicians, led by Ford-K leader Moses Wetang’ula hit out at President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto over what they termed failure to tame rampant corruption.
The leaders reiterated that they have been and will continue to be vocal on corruption whether it is at the national or county level, in response to Jubilee leaders’ claims that the Opposition had turned a blind eye on graft in counties controlled by CORD governors.
During the convention at the Bomas of Kenya also attended by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and ODM Secretary General Agnes Zani, speaker after speaker took issue with the government’s blame game and buck-passing, which they said will not solve the problem of corruption.
“The greedy Jubilee leaders with hyena syndrome believe that you can only agree if you are looting,” said Wetang’ula, who was endorsed as the party’s presidential candidate to fight it out with ODM’s Raila Odinga and Wiper’s Kalonzo.
He accused Jubilee of attempting to claw back on electoral reforms, saying the Opposition will not take this lying down.
“We have the capacity to bring this country to a standstill and even make it difficult for those who have looted to enjoy that money,” said the Bungoma senator.
Kalonzo accused the outgoing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) members of sending mixed signals about their departure and meddling in the electoral process.
“They want to go with one leg, but with the other they want to stay. We cannot afford a rigged election in 2017 and we know that is what they are trying to do, but we are on high alert,” said Kalonzo.
Zani said the fight against corruption is the work of the government, which has the tools to do so. She argued that the work of the Opposition is to point out corruption whether at the national or county level.
Blame game
“What the government is doing is a blame game as if the opposition controls government agencies. Our work in the opposition is to point out where corruption has been detected, while the government’s work is to take necessary measures,” she said.
Kalonzo said corruption in one county is equal to graft in all counties because the whole country suffers from loss of resources.
He lauded Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi for making a date with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) tomorrow and urged other governors to follow suit to show their seriousness in the war on graft.
“I encourage Kingi to go and say it as it is because I believe he has nothing to hide and if I find that any governors elected under the Wiper party have audit queries to answer to, then I will personally ask them to appear before the EACC,” said the former Vice President.
Wetang’ula took a swipe at the Deputy President over his insistence that the Opposition needs to name its presidential candidate for the forthcoming elections, saying that was not a measure of development.
“Having a candidate cannot be a measure of success. In his parochial thinking he believes that incumbency in elections is a measure of success,” said Wetang’ula.
He said Ruto cannot account for his wealth since he has not even been a clerk in any office. Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale urged the President to speak out on corruption in his own office and family.
“Joseph Kinyua authorised payment to a hospital in Laikipia County and the President must tell us how and why the chief of staff did this,” said Khalwale, even as he urged the CORD co-principals to condemn corruption in the counties.
He asked the Government to take action against the police officers accused of brutalising residents of Mumias during a security operation this week.
“Where were the officers when the police station was being raided? Or they had gone to raid traditional brew dens?” Khalwale posed.
Kalonzo said, “If you cannot deal with criminals, do not terrorise peaceful Kenyans,”.
He was accompanied by Machakos Woman Rep resentative Susan Musyoka, Nominated Senator Judith Sijeny and Mavoko MP Patrick Makau. Siaya Senator James Orengo was also present.
