The release of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report into last year’s maize scandal has focused attention on the Prime Minister’s office. The report seemed to put PM Raila Odinga in a spot and raised questions about his approach to fighting corruption. Our reporters Titus Too and Vitalis Kimutai spoke to Mosop MP David Koech and his Nyando counterpart Fred Outa on whether the PM’s actions in ordering two ministers to step aside was right.
No: Mosop MP David Koech
QUESTION: Was Prime Minister Raila Odinga right in ordering Education minister Sam Ongeri and his Agriculture counterpart William Ruto to leave office?
QUESTION:Was the release of the report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers on the maize scandal a diversionary tactic to ease pressure that had piled on Ongeri and his PS Prof Karega Mutahi to resign?
ANSWER: There are some people who have suspicions that was the case.
QUESTION: It has been claimed the PM was informed of the complicity of his senior staff in the maize scandal in 2008, but he did not act. Comment.
ANSWER: There is much to hear of the maize scandal. The PM knows more about the issue and he should not sacrifice others to cover up. There have been claims that about 100,000 bags of maize left the country for Southern Sudan. We want to be told if this is true if he wants to clean his office.
QUESTION: Do you think the PM has been receiving enough support from President Kibaki in fighting corruption?
ANSWER: We are yet to believe the PM is really fighting corruption. Suspending ministers when there are no details implicating them in scandals is tantamount to corrupting the laws. The audit report states the personal assistant to the Agriculture minister wrote a letter to NCPB requesting it to sell 1,000 bags of maize to a disabled person, but the letter was not honoured. We wonder how PM’s PS Mohamed Isahakia wrote letters for illegal purchase of 10,000 bags through a company associated to him. We believe the PM is not fighting any corruption, but is instead hiding a lot of information.
QUESTION: What are the chances of survival of the Grand Coalition Government if the PM is forced to quit?
ANSWER: The Grand Coalition was formed to bring Kenyans together after the post-poll violence. We don’t see any chance of breakage since all Kenyans are now more united than before. Kenyans are focused on the unity of the country from the day the national accord was signed.
QUESTION: What do you think is the most effective way of fighting corruption in the country?
ANSWER: To respect the laws. If the laws of the land are followed to the letter, they will effectively fight the vice in the society. Those who break the law should not be protected. We also need to take to trainour people to be patriotic to end tribal discrimination and other social vices.
Yes: Nyando MP Fred Outa
QUESTION: The PM had a few days ago called on Education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri to resign over the Ministry of Education scandal. Should he also step aside?
ANSWER: Why should Raila be asked to step aside yet he has a clear mandate to supervise and co-ordinate functions of all ministries? Some people have the mistaken notion that the PM’s rank is equivalent to that of any minister when indeed his position is equal to that of the President. The two are equal partners in government.
QUESTION: Was the release of the maize report a diversionary tactic to ease pressure that had piled on Ongeri and his PS Prof Karega Mutahi to resign?
ANSWER: There are those out to frustrate the PM in his fight against corruption, but they should be told that their plans will not succeed. Raila has steadily asserted pressure on the Minister and PS to step aside and some elements tried all tricks in the book to defeat the move.
QUESTION: It has been claimed the PM was informed of the complicity of his senior staff in the maize scandal in 2008, but he did not act. Comment.
ANSWER: When the scandal broke out, Raila engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to carry out independent audit and critique the initial government report. He could not have taken action against his staff implicated in alleged graft without a proper audit report.
QUESTION: Do you think the PM has been receiving enough support from President Kibaki in fighting corruption?
ANSWER: I strongly believe that the President means well in the fight against corruption and I am convinced that the statement issued quashing the PM’s directive did not come from him, but mandarins in the corridors of State House. If indeed it came from the President, what was so difficult to go public and address the nation as he has done before?
QUESTION: What are the chances of survival of the Grand Coalition Government if the PM is forced to quit?
ANSWER: It should be known from the onset that ODM is in the Grand Coalition government as a result of the circumstances that followed the bungled 2007 presidential vote tally. We are equal partners in government. If people think they are frustrating Raila to have him quit government, then they should be told that as a party we are ready for a General Election even today. We are not afraid of moving out of government.
QUESTION: What do you think is the most effective way of fighting official corruption in the country?
ANSWER: The ground that had been covered in the fight against the vice by the twoprincipals was commendable and the same should not be derailed. The institutions charged with investigation and prosecution should discharge their duties professionally. And political goodwill is needed if the fight is to be won.
