Defiant Ngilu has ‘no regrets’ over boreholes

Water minister Charity Ngilu has hit back at her detractors, posing as an anti-corruption crusader and brushing aside calls for her resignation.

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
Posted Monday, November 1 2010 at 20:36

Water minister Charity Ngilu has hit back at her detractors, posing as an anti-corruption crusader and brushing aside calls for her resignation.

The minister is accused of misusing public funds after the ministry sunk 126 of the 408 boreholes drilled across the country in her home region of Ukambani.

Addressing more than 100 staff of the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Authority, Mrs Ngilu defended her decision to sink boreholes in Ukambani.

“I want to state here very clearly: If I will lose my job because I’ve given to people who deserve water so much, so be it. I’ll be ready to do so.

“I am doing justice to a community that has suffered for many years, and I will not shy away that I come from that community.”

Mrs Ngilu received support from Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who yesterday released a statement saying: “This is the first time since independence that there has been a really serious attempt to address the water problem in Ukambani in a fashion that comes close to affirmative action.”

Mr Odinga said there was no corruption case pending against Mrs Ngilu.

“I will expect not only the Prime Minister to defend me, but even the President to defend me, and Kenyans to defend me,” Mrs Ngilu said.

She spoke at a function where equipment worth Sh33 million that had been stolen by workers was returned to the corporation.

Among the items returned was a Sh30 million grader, which disappeared in 2006 and was recovered in Ethiopia.

Water permanent secretary David Stower said steps had been taken to end corruption, including sacking corrupt employees.