KIBAKI IN TROUBLE

President Kibaki found himself on the wrong side of MPs and some assistant ministers over his stance that the fight against corruption should not be “personalised or politicised.”

The legislators, who are aligned to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) wing of the Grand Coalition government, cited the Anglo Leasing, Triton, maize, Grand Regency and the free learning scandals as evidence that the President was not serious in fighting corruption.

Assistant ministers George Khaniri, Ayiecho Olweny (Muhoroni, ODM), Sospeter Ojaamong’ (Amagoro, ODM), and Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Chache, PDP) joined MPs John Mbadi (Gwassi, ODM), Nkoidila ole Lankas (Narok South, ODM), Justus Kizito (Shinyalu, ODM) and Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda, ODM) in castigating the President for “perpetuating lip service” in the fight against corruption.

“We should just forget about him [President Kibaki] and accept that he cannot lead the war on corruption. This war is lost in the current regime,” said Mr Mbadi.

“The president cannot tell us that it is institutions that are fighting corruption yet the levels are continue rising… that was just pure rhetoric.”

Suspensions

President Kibaki made the remarks during the State Opening of Parliament and he was understood to be responding to Prime Minister Raila Odinga who has been pushing for the resignation of two ministers - William Ruto (Agriculture) and Sam Ongeri (Education) - whom he purported to have suspended over allegations of corruption in their dockets. The president revoked the suspensions.

Mr Khaniri insisted that the President had erred in his remarks that it was inappropriate to target individuals in the fight against graft.

“Most of the perpetrators are politicians and individuals with political protection, we have to deal with them,” said Mr Khaniri, the information assistant minister.

Mr Ojamoong’ reckoned that it was time the Head of State should focus on reviving the Kenya Education Sector Support Programme that was suspended by the British Government following a Sh100 million scandal in the free learning docket.

He added that the World Bank had also suspended a flood mitigation project because of misuse of funds at the Treasury.

Mr Chanzu said the President was not doing his job.

“Parliament is being used to discipline ministers (through censure motions), when that’s the job of the Executive. Why do we pay someone Sh2 million when he cannot do his job,” he posed.

Individual Interests

Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny said it was “impossible” to fight corruption without targeting individuals.

“It will be personalised and it will be political,” said Prof Olweny.

Information Minister Samuel Poghisio and ODM-K nominated MP Shakila Abdalla defended the President saying “the message was in the words”.

“The President meant that the fight against corruption is our collective responsibility, and that we should stop defending our individual interests,” said Ms Abdalla.

Mr Poghisio said that the attacks against the President were misguided and that the MPs were “splitting hairs” instead of dwelling on “the policy aspect of the speech.”

But Mr Kizito told the two: “The President was a bit harsh on one side of the political divide as his statement meant that ministers in the coalition government cannot be touched.”

The debate on the president’s speech continues in parliament.