Declare your wealth, Kenneth dares rivals

Declare your wealth, Kenneth dares rivals

THURSDAY, 24 MAY 2012 23:45 BY FRANCIS MUREITHI

CLEAN: Presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth at a Nairobi hotel yesterday where he met youth from his secretariat. Photo/Monicah Mwangi

Presidential hopeful Peter Kenneth has said all those in the race to State House should be ready to publicly declare their wealth and how they acquired it. The Planning assistant minister said as part of pushing for integrity and ensuring corrupt free leaders are elected in the next elections, all those aspiring for presidency must declare their wealth.

Kenneth said they should get a clearance certificate from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission before being granted the nomination certificate by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. “I am ready to declare what I own and how I acquired it. The issues of integrity must be key in the elections. Let those also running for presidency put their records straight,” he said.

Kenneth, who heads the Kenya National Congress party, was speaking at The Stanley Hotel when he met over 200 youths from different parts of the country who have volunteered to support his presidential campaign. He told the youth that he has nothing to fear regarding the offices he has served in previously. They include  assistant minister in the ministries of Finance and Cooperative Development, having been the chairman of Kenya Football Federation, and as CEO at Kenya Reinsurance company.

Already, a bill is set to be introduced in Parliament seeking to enact a law to ensure that leaders who have been named in parliamentary investigations into unresolved scandals are not cleared to vie for elective posts. The bill also proposes that all those who have been mentioned in various reports of commissions of inquiry that Parliament has adopted be blocked from seeking elective posts. It seeks to operationalise Chapter Six of the constitution which deals with integrity.

Speaking to the youths, Kenneth said he is aware that the “old and moneyed” are against him as he cannot protect  the "status quo". He lashed out at politicians who have declared that they want to negotiate with the outlawed Mombasa Republican Council. He said doing so will compromise the security of the country and open a floodgate for other illegal groupings seeking formal recognition by the government.

He challenged the youth to take a crucial role in determining who is elected into office during the next elections. Others in the race include Prime Minister Raila Odinga, DPMs Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Internal Security minister George Saitoti, Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa, MPs Martha Karua, William Ruto, Mutava Musyimi and former legislators Raphael Tuju, Paul Muite and former Education PS James ole Kiyiapi.