Punish those who diverted president’s offering

President Kenyatta then donated foodstuff and cooking oil to the Muslim faithful. These included 820 bags of cereals and 190 cartons of cooking oil. [Courtesy]

Last week, President Uhuru Kenyatta became the first sitting Head of State to join worshippers in a Mosque in the history of independent Kenya. Definitely, that was a boost for national cohesion and integration; for although we may pursue different faiths, ultimately, we worship the same God.

President Kenyatta then donated foodstuff and cooking oil to the Muslim faithful. These included 820 bags of cereals and 190 cartons of cooking oil.

Later, it transpired that about half of the consignment had been delivered. The rest vanished into thin air. Early this year, a woman from Nakuru County declined a house proffered to her by President Kenyatta because it was not what the president had ordered to be built for her and her family. The offer followed her son’s recitation of a poem for the president in 2015.

It could be a trend that some directives don't get honoured. But why? These two incidents came to the limelight because the media picked it up. Perhaps more others go unreported.

What this points to is the existence of a weak link in State House that undermines the execution of the president's directive either for personal gain or out of dereliction of duty. No doubt, this ties in to the vice of corruption that the president is committed to having eliminated. The president is no ordinary Kenyan. He is busy and that is why he has many handlers helping him perform some of the duties and to do follow-ups. He has been let down twice, he needs to crack the whip.