Kiyiapi fights off calls to quit

By Standard Team

Education Permanent Secretary James Ole Kiyiapi has accused Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority Director Patrick Lumumba of using his position to taint images of senior civil servants and politicians.

Kiyiapi challenged Lumumba to resign for failing to discharge his duties accordingly. The PS said Lumumba should provide evidence linking him to the Sh4.5 billion free education funds that were embezzled in the Ministry of Education. He claimed the money was misused before he was appointed PS in the Ministry.

"I am eying a top position in the next General Election. The issue of financial mismanagement is just aimed at discrediting me," he said.

The PS was speaking at Kaimosi Girls School during the Hamisi District Education Day. Lumumba is reported to have called on Kiyiapi and Education minister Sam Ongeri to resign over the scandals.

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Committee on Education has called for the investigation and arrest of those responsible for the loss of Sh4.2 billion free primary education funds.

Slightly more

Committee Chairman David Koech who is also the MP for Mosop Constituency said the lost money could be slightly more than the given figures as money for infrastructure has not been included in the audit.

He said the Government has enough investigation capacity and machinery to net the real culprits. Koech said the issue of "stepping aside" might not be the best option for the country at the moment.

"This is like telling them to go for a holiday to enjoy the looted funds," added Koech.

And civil society leaders have threatened to take to the streets if President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga do not act against Ongeri, Kiyiapi and former Education PS Prof Karega Mutahi.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi yesterday, the leaders announced that they would be handing a petition against Prof Ongeri to Kibaki and Raila, before they took to the streets in protest.

"Ongeri must be made to take political and criminal responsibility for the theft of billions of shillings," said Maurice Odhiambo, president of the National Civil Society Congress.