Ministers barred from revealing State secrets

President Kibaki, accompanied by Prime minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, arrives for the closing session of the Ministers retreat in Ukunda November 13, 2010. PPS 

By LUCAS BARASA, lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com and EUNICE MACHUHI, emachuhi@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, November 13 2010 at 14:39

The government has barred ministers from revealing State secrets as it moves to tighten the flow of information within its circle.

Stunned by recent revelations of corruption that have threatened to paralyse government activities, a retreat of ministers and their assistants attended by President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga resolved that they should all abide by oath of secrecy.

"Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers will abide by the oath of secrecy and keep Government secrets," read a communiqué sent to newsrooms Saturday.

Resolutions of the two-day meeting at Leisure Lodge Resort read by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka also directed the ministers to abide by the principles of collective responsibility.

The 17 resolutions come hot on the heels of fierce exchange between Water and Irrigation minister Charity Ngilu and her former assistant Mwangi Kiunjuri over alleged corruption in the Ministry.

Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang'ula and Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi also stepped aside over alleged irregularities in procurement of Kenya missions abroad.

Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey is under pressure to quit over his handling of the appointment of Kenya Bureau of Standards managing director while a number of senior ministry of Immigration officials have been shown the door over graft.

The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (Kacc) has said it is investigating four ministers and 45 parasatal heads.

The retreat that was also attended by chairpersons of various parliamentary committees, which have shown renewed energy in investigating irregularities in various dockets further barred ministers, their assistants, MPs and other public officers from participating in harambees.

The fund drives, which were notorious during the Kanu era where contributions were sourced form government bodies, were banned when Narc came to power in 2003 but have been slowly resurfacing.

"To ensure that public officers, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Members of Parliament; Permanent Secretaries and all civil servants comply with the integrity and ethical values elaborated in the constitution; as well as public officer’s act which, among others, prohibits public officers from presiding over harambee functions," read one of the resolutions.

Participants at the retreat agreed to intensify and sustain the fight against corruption and that ministers, PSs and Heads of Department s to ensure harmony in working environment.

They are also to harmonise the “processes and schedules of accountability” of executive to Parliament through consultations.

The participants, who also included permanent secretaries, also resolved that regular consultative meetings between the executive and the legislature be held to “harmonise the working relationship and improve the efficiency of the work of government on the basis of law and mutual respect".

Efforts to implement the new Constitution got a boost as participants agreed to collectively and individually implement the provisions of the Constitution in the discharge of their duties and fast track development of policies and laws to expedite the process.

Closing the retreat, President Kibaki declared that nothing will stand on the way of implementing the new law and that current leaders should take the lead so that they could leave a better legacy and be remembered by Kenyans.

The country, he said was in a transitional period that would see fundamental changes in the manner in which it is governed.

"The Executive and Legislature are agreed on the need to work together with each arm of Government doing its duty to ensure the full and timely implementation of the Constitution,” the Head of State said.

He said the Executive and Parliament will give top priority to passing the laws and establish the institutions and structures that are needed to entrench the new constitutional dispensation.

“We also agreed that time is of essence and we must not be distracted from this task.”

He urged the leaders to fully embrace the new order ushered in after the promulgation, and let go of the old one, saying that the retreat had renewed the vigour to entrench national values, principles and the leadership and integrity code enshrined in the laws.

The President also stressed on the need for the MPs to spend time with their constituents, so that they could also understand the new laws and be ready to embrace them at the grassroots in all the 47 counties.

“The task ahead of us is achievable. We who are gathered here will make it happen because we have what it takes and the determination to transform our country. We must hasten the implementation so that wananchi (locals) can begin to enjoy immediate benefits,” he noted.

These benefits, he said, include the end of absolute hunger, creation of enough jobs and employment opportunities and enjoyment of fundamental rights as this would allow people to live decent and dignified lives.

The President told leaders to stop squabbling.

“These quarrels should end and I ask each of you to concentrate on the task ahead because you will be associated with these happenings which you need to make worthwhile,” he said.

The current period, he said was the best time for MPs to indulge and work with their constituents because in two years they will be going back to solicit for votes.

“You will go back to beg them to give you jobs which are very many. But do not have the temptation of not receiving those who will start campaigning now,” he said.

Participants at the retreat declared their commitment “fully, systematically and efficiently implement the new constitution".