Martha Karua hits at President Uhuru administration over graft

Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua addresses journalists in Naivasha yesterday. [PHOTO: ANTONY GITONGA/STANDARD]

By ANTONY GITONGA

After months of silence, former Cabinet minister and presidential candidate Martha Karua has come out to accuse the Jubilee government of condoning corruption.

The Narc-Kenya leader, who has been quiet since losing in last year’s General Election, accused President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration of tolerating corruption within its ranks.

She cited the Standard Gauge Railway and the Tassia housing projects as evidence that high-level corruption was not being dealt with.

“There is no government that can meet the needs of its people by tolerating corruption,” she said.

On insecurity that has hit parts of the country, Karua told top leaders in Government to take a cue from Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua.

“Governor Mutua has shown that he is the only leader out to tackle insecurity. We commend him and ask the Government to learn from him,” she said.

Karua, who insisted that she was still on sabbatical leave, expressed her party’s concern over the drought that has hit parts of the country.

She accused the Government of acting late despite getting early warnings that parts of the country would face famine.

“We are asking the governors in affected counties to use the emergency kitty to address the issue of hunger,” she said.

Karua was addressing the Press at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha during a two-day retreat for the party.

COST OF LIVING

Narc-Kenya Secretary General Mwanyengela Ngali said the party was worried by the ballooning public wage bill at the expense of development expenditure.

He identified insecurity, corruption, unemployment, high cost of living and high interest rates as some challenges that need to be addressed.

“We call on Kenyans to take due responsibility and hold the Government to account so it can fulfill its responsibility,” he said. “We are concerned by the Political Parties Act, which locks out majority of parties from Treasury funding under the five per cent rule,” he said.

Elsewhere, Coast ODM leaders yesterday backed Agnes Zani and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho’s candidatures in the forthcoming Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party elections.

But they indicated that they are ready to negotiate a deal with other regions over seats. Others from the region who are contesting national posts are Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori, who wants to be deputy organising secretary, and Zulekha Hassan who is aiming for the post of secretary for international affairs.