MAIZE SCANDAL

Prime Minister Raila Odinga could drop top aides implicated in the maize scandal this weekend, as others asked him to quit to facilitate investigations into the scandal.

The Standard on Saturday has learnt that Raila is reportedly toying with the idea of firing the officials to ease pressure on himself and his office.

Sources indicate that the PM is timing the swift and dramatic action this weekend when he leaves the country for Japan, miles away from the anticipated political storm his decision would trigger.

But Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo does not buy Raila’s plan, or sincerity. Instead, Kilonzo wants Raila to step aside because he was in charge of co-ordinating and supervising all the ministries, including those involved in scams.

"I am not interested in witch-hunting but my message to my colleagues is that they step aside. The PM has also forgotten that he is in charge of co-ordination and supervision of ministries and that also affects his office," said Mutula.

The minister said the affected ministers should take responsibility and step aside to facilitate investigation after which they can be reinstated if cleared.

And Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture also joined the fray, saying they would summon the Prime Minister for grilling in connection with the maize scandal.

The chairman of the committee John Mututho said the Prime Minister would be required to shed more light on the scandal and the involvement of his staff.

The Naivasha MP said the committee would also summon all other officials implicated in the scandal.

"We want to assure Kenyans that there would no be cover up this time," the MP added.

President Kibaki added his voice to the goings-on saying for the umpteenth there would be action against those found misappropriating public funds. He directed relevant arms of the Government to step up surveillance to ensure public funds are prudently and accountably spent.

In an apparent reference to corruption allegations that have dogged the Grand Coalition Government, the Head of State said all those found embezzling public funds should be dealt with.

"I call upon the relevant arms of Government to step up surveillance to ensure public funds are prudently and accountably spent and make sure those found misappropriating funds are punished in accordance with the law," Kibaki said, when he presided over the passing out parade of 5,192 National Youth Service recruits in Gilgil.

On Thursday Raila said the maize scam — reported to have cost taxpayers Sh2 billion — is a test case for the Government.

But pressed by journalists on when action would be taken on named officials, the Premier said he "should not be pushed" simply because the media "want blood spilt".

He spoke at a forum where PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) officials presented the damning report, which exploded at a time Raila upped pressure on Education Minister Sam Ongeri and PS Karega Mutahi to resign over the Free Primary Education scam.

The maize saga report created a groundswell in the PM’s own office after it named PS Mohamed Isahakia. Isahakia is in trouble over allocation in August 2008 of 10, 000 90kg-bags of maize to Interglobal Logistics, a software company in which he is a co-director. Interglobal later sold its allocation to Eldoret Grains, according to the report.

In his defence to the investigators, Isahakia claimed to have had no knowledge of the transaction as he thought the company was still ‘dormant’.

He said his co-director Bare Shill, a former MP and National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) director, oversaw the transaction. The report says Bare confirmed he closed the deal with the miller and obtained Sh2 million ‘facilitation’ fee.

Others have not taken kindly swipes at the Prime Minister. National Heritage Minister William ole Ntimama, for one, says he was surprised, for example, that Mutula was on the forefront calling for the PM’s resignation. He accused the Justice Minister of failing to steer reforms in the Judiciary that could lead to stumping out graft.

Speaking at Rusty Nails Restaurant in Karen, Nairobi, Ntimama said the blame game was out to shift attention, as well as cause public anxiety. "This expansion of the blame game is out to cause confusion and unnecessary divisions, to divert focus on the real issues. This will not help us fight rampant graft," Ntimama said.

"Why start blaming everybody and calling for resignations whereas the PwC report has made it clear on those behind the scam-who are only awaiting prosecution?"