Tainted officials will face stern action, says Kibaki

By David Ohito

President Kibaki has asked Kenyans not to sympathise with people who are arrested for swindling public funds.

The President and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga fired more warnings that the Government will not relent in its war on corruption.

A tough talking Kibaki affirmed that severe punishment must be meted on the culprits.

"A person who plans to misuse public funds must not be allowed to continue working in Government. We must deal with those who want to embezzle public money. We must not have mercy on swindlers and we will sack such fellows," he said.

Kibaki put on notice civil servants who collude with contractors to overprice infrastructure projects that they will face stern action.

He emphasised that the Government expects Kenyans to get full value for their money and cases of collusion between officials and contractors to overprice projects will be not be tolerated. "I expect the relevant Government agencies to deal firmly and decisively with such persons," he said.

The President was speaking when he opened the Transformative and Effective Infrastructure Projects Conference at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi.

Economic growth

Raila and several Cabinet ministers accompanied the President.

Kibaki reiterated the Government was determined to curtail corruption and ensure prudent use of taxes for accelerated economic growth and realisation of Vision 2030.

Raila urged Kenyans to report legitimate cases of corruption to the relevant arms of Government and to avoid malicious allegations, which could derail implementation of important projects to ensure the realisation of Vision 2030.

Said Kibaki: "Public money must be used to develop and install important facilities required by Kenyans. Our country has enough young men and women who want to serve the nation. Those who want to continue working on ways to steal public money should go home and let the new crop of professionals develop the country."

While addressing the same forum, Raila urged contractors who fairly lost Government tenders to avoid unnecessary legal battles, which hindered timely implementation of vital projects.

Raila said such long legal battles not only deny Kenyans services but also unnecessarily increase the cost of undertaking projects due to lost time and increased prices of materials required to execute the project.

"Do not tie the hands of the Government in its efforts to deliver services to wananchi through long winding investigations. Kenyans deserve to get value for their money," said the Prime Minister.