Mudavadi: KRA has no role in vetting politicians

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Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi leaves the Friends Church Quakers in Ofafa Maringo, Nairobi after attending its 26th Annual General Conference August 25, 2012.  

By CALEB MUTUA cmutua@ke.nationmedia.com and SAMUEL MBURU snjoroge@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, August 25  2012 at  15:40

IN SUMMARY

• Mudavadi: Final decision on who is eligible to run should be left to the electorate.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has said the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has no role in vetting politicians.

Mr Mudavadi said that though Kenyans want leaders who pass the integrity test, the final decision on who is eligible to run should be left to the electorate.

"The Kenya Revenue Authority is a revenue collection agency. You cannot convert it into a political process because you are taking away the mandate of KRA as a revenue collection authority and you want to give it a process of vetting politicians.

"This is giving KRA the wrong mandate,” said Mr Mudavadi, the United Democratic Front (UDF) presidential aspirants, during the Friends Church Quakers annual conference in Maringo, Nairobi Saturday.

KRA is among institutions mandated to clear aspirants intending to vie for public offices under Chapter Six of the Constitution, whose scope covers leadership and integrity. Others include the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission, Higher Education Loans Board among others.

However, the Leadership and Integrity Bill, which was passed on Thursday by Parliament with amendments, has been watered down by the Cabinet, essentially removing vetting provisions and opening the door for anyone to vie.

Clause 35 of the original Bill stated that anybody who does not pass the integrity test shall be barred from holding public office.

The Bill is awaiting presidential assent.

Politicise institutions

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The Sabatia MP said that the country risked politicising major institutions under the pretence of placing them as vetting organs for top government officials.

"When we say we want a vetting tool to evaluate our politicians, what mechanisms have we put in place to ensure that those vetting leaders cannot be used politically to bring others down?” posed the DPM.

He reminded Kenyans how the Kanu regime used theNational Disciplinary Committee under Okiki Amayo to stop politicians from vying for elective posts.

“The late Peter Okondo started crying before the disciplinary committee after being denied permission to vie for his seat in Budalangi. Those days once the doors were locked for you as an aspirant, it was the end of you."

He also condemned the Tana River County attacks and called for thorough investigations to the deadly revenge attacks which left 52 dead and scores injured. He blamed the inter-clan clashes on tribal politics.

"Some of these issues are beginning to arise not because people are beginning to fight for resources but because people are beginning to jostle for political positions, either trying to use clan or ethnic based strategies to try and build support for themselves but it is a very costly way of playing politics in this country because we lose lives,” said Mr Mudavadi.

"We urge the country to pray for a peaceful transition from the current government to the next one."