Mudavadi speaks on replacing CS Rotich

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi on Monday commented on talk that he is set to replace Treasury CS Henry Rotich who was arrested over the Arror- Kimwarer dams scandal.

Speaking during an interview on TV, Mudavadi, who served as the Minister of Finance between 1993 and 1997, stated that he will not take up any position in government.

"Let everybody know that I am okay serving as the opposition leader at ANC and I will not take up any position in government.

“I have stated categorically I am firmly in opposition and there are issues I can commend the government for and there are issues I criticize the government for issues like public debt," he remarked.

Mudavadi, however, emphasized the importance of the Treasury docket saying President Uhuru Kenyatta might have to appoint someone to serve in acting capacity before investigations into the dams’ scandal are completed.

"Uhuru made a statement and pronounced that if an official of government finds that he is in court to answer to a pronouncement, he expects the individual to leave voluntarily or he would remove them and I support that.

"Uhuru understands the CS Treasury position is a very important portfolio in signing of any financial requirements, so he can gazette somebody to act in the interim while he makes up his mind on who he wishes to be in that docket," he remarked

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji had earlier ordered the arrest of Rotich and his Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge among other state officers over the scandal.

Detectives also arrested NEMA Director General Geoffrey Wahungu at his home in Rukindu, Tharaka Nithi County in the swoop.

The announcement came after Haji and Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss George Kinoti flew to Italy on June 10 to conclude investigations into the dams’ scandal.

Those to be arrested include EAC PS Susan Koech, Kerio Valley Development Authority managing director Kipchumba Kimosop, Treasury chief economist Kennedy Nyachiro and Treasury director of resource mobilisation Jackson Kinyanjui.

(CS Henry Rotich and PS Kamau Thugge)