Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Monday came face-to-face with Agriculture minister William Ruto at a tense meeting convened to discuss, among others, the thorny issue of the maize scandal that has polarised the Government and further split ODM party.
The meeting, attended by 15 ODM ministers, was however sharply divided on whether ministers should be held accountable even in instances where junior officers had a hand in questionable deals.
And Raila confirmed that he had not consulted President Kibaki directly before announcing the ‘suspension’ of Ruto and his Education counterpart, Prof Sam Ongeri, though he had held "wide consultations" within Government.
It is understood that Raila shared the issue with the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of Civil Service, Ambassador Francis Muthaura, before taking the action that was later reversed by the Head of State.
By virtue of telling Muthaura, by implication, the PM thought their discussion would reach President Kibaki.
At yesterday’s meeting at the PM’s Treasury office, the ODM wing of Government discussed the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on subsidised maize and the loss of over Sh100 million meant for the free primary education programme.
However, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Press Service sent out to newsrooms last evening noted that the meeting had reviewed the agenda for the year.
Why suspend me?
Though the meeting was closed to the media, sources at the meeting indicated that Ruto put up a defence that the PwC report had indeed not indicted him and wondered why the PM had ‘suspended’ him.
One of the ministers said it was improper to hold ministers accountable for actions of junior officers.
"Ministers cannot police everybody and if we are going to hold them accountable for actions that they may not even be aware of, there would be no Government," a minister is quoted to have said.
Whereas some ministers supported the PM’s action against Ruto and Ongeri, others disagreed with the approach and suggested that the party come up with other better ways of resolving issues.
The ministers said they needed to spend more time on the maize scandal because it "put more pressure on the Orange party".
The meeting, however, failed to come up with a conclusive way forward and resolved to meet again tomorrow, where they would also discuss the draft Constitution ahead of its tabling in Parliament.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
ONLINE REGISTRATION
The Kenya National Examination Council -KNEC-has embarked on a project to register all Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education- KCSE candidates electronically to make the process efficient and accountable.
According to the new guidelines set by the examination body, this year's candidates will be registered online on the KNEC website.
The council's Chief Executive Officer Paul Wasanga says schools which do not have internet facilities will be forced to use cyber cafes or government institutions with internet connectivity.
He noted that the move is aimed at ensuring all KCSE candidates are registered hence ending perennial cases of non-registration of candidates by some unscrupulous institutions realising it when examination commences.
The schools authorities and candidates will now be able to confirm their registration through the KNEC website.
According to the new guidelines set by the examination body, this year's candidates will be registered online on the KNEC website.
The council's Chief Executive Officer Paul Wasanga says schools which do not have internet facilities will be forced to use cyber cafes or government institutions with internet connectivity.
He noted that the move is aimed at ensuring all KCSE candidates are registered hence ending perennial cases of non-registration of candidates by some unscrupulous institutions realising it when examination commences.
The schools authorities and candidates will now be able to confirm their registration through the KNEC website.
BUSINESS HURTING
Kenya’s business community has called on the two principals to resolve their wrangles as their public dispute is taking its toll on the country’s economy.
The leaders from various business circles said on Monday that the war of words between the President and his Premier over graft were casting a negative light on Kenya’s business climate and were likely to reduce the country’s competitive advantage on the international scale.
Kenya Private Sector Alliance Chairman Patrick Obath said the two should exercise responsible leadership to encourage sustainable development.
“The Kenya shilling has devalued; the Stock Exchange has been affected and you are hearing noises from the external world about this country. But this is a great opportunity for leaders to start showing integrity. What we are hearing are two different voices; one person saying one thing and the other saying another. Who is behaving with integrity? Who is telling the truth?” he posed.
Eng Obath also added that businesses would be able to increase their dividends if they fought graft at all levels saying it would reduce operational costs by about three to four percent.
“If everybody in a company was a person of integrity, it would actually simplify the processes in the company because everybody is trusted and you don’t need to start putting all sorts of controls in that company,” he explained.
Managing Director of Cooperative Insurance Company (CIC) Nelson Kuria who was one of the business leaders explained that the insurance sector continued losing revenue to graft as the vice had become extremely expensive to the industry which lost 30 to 40 percent of its revenue per year to fraud.
“Majority of Kenyans cannot receive healthcare because of a few fat cats who deny them healthcare. If the insurance industry keeps the Sh1.2 to Sh1.6 billion that it loses to corruption then it means insurance would be cheaper for other Kenyans by the same margin,” he explained.
They were speaking during a forum where they engaged the media on discussions to bring value based leadership to the forefront. The discussion forum had been organized by KEPSA in association with Ungwana Initiative Campaign and Training Solutions.
Chief Executive Officer of AAR Health Services Njagi Gakunju echoed Eng Obath’s sentiments saying that Kenyans should all join forces and fight the vice. He added that Kenyans should focus on self analysis on issues of graft versus integrity in order save the country more resources.
“A lot of work and a lot of resources are lost because of graft. But if you are able to find ways of inculcating values within the family and within business such that we start looking inwards, we will be able to get resources in excess of 60 percent of what we are wasting today,” he said.
Team Ungwana lead Kenneth Njiiru called for a new citizenship that would exercise restraint and refuse to partake of corruption. He also called upon Kenyan leaders to play their leadership role saying the future of the country lay in their hands.
“This country needs a dedicated, modest, well informed person, self driven or self led person. If you cannot lead others then you cannot be led as it is. A country cannot rise above the character of its leaders and that underpins the question of value based leadership,” he said.
Melwek Engineering’s Gerald Wamalwa also cautioned businesses against perpetuating fraud saying that the business fraternity was also to blame for the increasing levels of the ill in Kenya.
“I read in a certain document that ultimately it is businesses that fuel corruption because it is all about money exchanging hands so it is time for us to take responsibility for our country. I believe that it is time we realized the importance of value based leadership because in the absence of an example people will follow whatever thing is available for them to follow,” he said.
Managing Director Training Solutions Anne Ng’ethe meanwhile cautioned businesses against engaging in dishonest practices saying they would collapse as a result. She advised Kenyans to nip corruption at the bud in order to rid the country of the vice.
“As long as the roots of the tree are rotten, then that tree eventually will die. And therefore if you are practicing negative values or unethical business behavior you may succeed for a little while but it is not sustainable because at the core the root of that organization is rotten,” she said.
Christ is the Answer Ministries Edward Ngaira also asked Kenyans to self reflect adding that the country had a chance of fighting the vice.
The leaders from various business circles said on Monday that the war of words between the President and his Premier over graft were casting a negative light on Kenya’s business climate and were likely to reduce the country’s competitive advantage on the international scale.
Kenya Private Sector Alliance Chairman Patrick Obath said the two should exercise responsible leadership to encourage sustainable development.
“The Kenya shilling has devalued; the Stock Exchange has been affected and you are hearing noises from the external world about this country. But this is a great opportunity for leaders to start showing integrity. What we are hearing are two different voices; one person saying one thing and the other saying another. Who is behaving with integrity? Who is telling the truth?” he posed.
Eng Obath also added that businesses would be able to increase their dividends if they fought graft at all levels saying it would reduce operational costs by about three to four percent.
“If everybody in a company was a person of integrity, it would actually simplify the processes in the company because everybody is trusted and you don’t need to start putting all sorts of controls in that company,” he explained.
Managing Director of Cooperative Insurance Company (CIC) Nelson Kuria who was one of the business leaders explained that the insurance sector continued losing revenue to graft as the vice had become extremely expensive to the industry which lost 30 to 40 percent of its revenue per year to fraud.
“Majority of Kenyans cannot receive healthcare because of a few fat cats who deny them healthcare. If the insurance industry keeps the Sh1.2 to Sh1.6 billion that it loses to corruption then it means insurance would be cheaper for other Kenyans by the same margin,” he explained.
They were speaking during a forum where they engaged the media on discussions to bring value based leadership to the forefront. The discussion forum had been organized by KEPSA in association with Ungwana Initiative Campaign and Training Solutions.
Chief Executive Officer of AAR Health Services Njagi Gakunju echoed Eng Obath’s sentiments saying that Kenyans should all join forces and fight the vice. He added that Kenyans should focus on self analysis on issues of graft versus integrity in order save the country more resources.
“A lot of work and a lot of resources are lost because of graft. But if you are able to find ways of inculcating values within the family and within business such that we start looking inwards, we will be able to get resources in excess of 60 percent of what we are wasting today,” he said.
Team Ungwana lead Kenneth Njiiru called for a new citizenship that would exercise restraint and refuse to partake of corruption. He also called upon Kenyan leaders to play their leadership role saying the future of the country lay in their hands.
“This country needs a dedicated, modest, well informed person, self driven or self led person. If you cannot lead others then you cannot be led as it is. A country cannot rise above the character of its leaders and that underpins the question of value based leadership,” he said.
Melwek Engineering’s Gerald Wamalwa also cautioned businesses against perpetuating fraud saying that the business fraternity was also to blame for the increasing levels of the ill in Kenya.
“I read in a certain document that ultimately it is businesses that fuel corruption because it is all about money exchanging hands so it is time for us to take responsibility for our country. I believe that it is time we realized the importance of value based leadership because in the absence of an example people will follow whatever thing is available for them to follow,” he said.
Managing Director Training Solutions Anne Ng’ethe meanwhile cautioned businesses against engaging in dishonest practices saying they would collapse as a result. She advised Kenyans to nip corruption at the bud in order to rid the country of the vice.
“As long as the roots of the tree are rotten, then that tree eventually will die. And therefore if you are practicing negative values or unethical business behavior you may succeed for a little while but it is not sustainable because at the core the root of that organization is rotten,” she said.
Christ is the Answer Ministries Edward Ngaira also asked Kenyans to self reflect adding that the country had a chance of fighting the vice.
ARUNGA OUT
Controversial Jazz maestro Joseph Hellon and five followers were on Monday arraigned in a Nairobi Court and charged with being members of unlawful society, the Finger of God Church.
Mr Hellon was accused alongside Quincy Zuma Timberlake, who is linked to former television news anchor Esther Arunga.
Others in court were Samuel Onyango, Fredrick Onyango, Vincent Onyango, Grace Njii and Veronica Agape Koteng'o.
But the six through lawyer Harun Ndubi declined to plead to the accusations, saying the charge did not disclose any offence.
“The charge as framed does not disclose any offence. It is illegal and I urge the court not to admit it,'' he said.
The advocate told Nairobi Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei that his clients had not committed any crime for the church to be declared illegal.
“There is nothing wrong they have done for the church to be considered unlawful,'' he argued.
He explained that the church was registered back in 2002 adding they have a right to worship and associate as they wished.
Mr Ndubi claimed that the investigation officer had continued to detain the registration certificate “in order to deny accused persons justice''.
But the prosecution asked Mr Mutembei to disregard the objections and admit the charge saying the information contained therein was sufficient and discloses an offence as provided and the Criminal Procedure Code.
“Your honour I urge the court to disregard the objections raised by the defence lawyer. It is clear from the particulars of the charge that there is an offence committed by the accused persons and I urge you to admit the charge so that they can answer to the charges,” Superintendent C K Towett urged the court.
The accused were remanded in custody until Tuesday when Mr Mutembei will decide whether to dismiss or admit the charge against them.
If found guilty, the court heard, the accused could serve a one year jail term or pay a fine of not more than Sh5 million.
The accused were arrested on Sunday over their involvement in a religious organisation with suspicious background.
The activities of the church have been in the public limelight after the former KTN news anchor Ms Arunga ditched her work and joined the church.
Police raided Mr Hellon's house in Gigiri at 2am on Sunday and arrested the two and other followers of the controversial Finger of God ministry based in Nairobi's Runda estate.
The suspects were locked up in various police stations in Nairobi. Ms Arunga who spent Sunday night at Muthaiga police station was released on Monday morning on a police bond.
According to police sources, she might be used as a prosecution witness in the case.
Mr Hellon was accused alongside Quincy Zuma Timberlake, who is linked to former television news anchor Esther Arunga.
Others in court were Samuel Onyango, Fredrick Onyango, Vincent Onyango, Grace Njii and Veronica Agape Koteng'o.
But the six through lawyer Harun Ndubi declined to plead to the accusations, saying the charge did not disclose any offence.
“The charge as framed does not disclose any offence. It is illegal and I urge the court not to admit it,'' he said.
The advocate told Nairobi Chief Magistrate Gilbert Mutembei that his clients had not committed any crime for the church to be declared illegal.
“There is nothing wrong they have done for the church to be considered unlawful,'' he argued.
He explained that the church was registered back in 2002 adding they have a right to worship and associate as they wished.
Mr Ndubi claimed that the investigation officer had continued to detain the registration certificate “in order to deny accused persons justice''.
But the prosecution asked Mr Mutembei to disregard the objections and admit the charge saying the information contained therein was sufficient and discloses an offence as provided and the Criminal Procedure Code.
“Your honour I urge the court to disregard the objections raised by the defence lawyer. It is clear from the particulars of the charge that there is an offence committed by the accused persons and I urge you to admit the charge so that they can answer to the charges,” Superintendent C K Towett urged the court.
The accused were remanded in custody until Tuesday when Mr Mutembei will decide whether to dismiss or admit the charge against them.
If found guilty, the court heard, the accused could serve a one year jail term or pay a fine of not more than Sh5 million.
The accused were arrested on Sunday over their involvement in a religious organisation with suspicious background.
The activities of the church have been in the public limelight after the former KTN news anchor Ms Arunga ditched her work and joined the church.
Police raided Mr Hellon's house in Gigiri at 2am on Sunday and arrested the two and other followers of the controversial Finger of God ministry based in Nairobi's Runda estate.
The suspects were locked up in various police stations in Nairobi. Ms Arunga who spent Sunday night at Muthaiga police station was released on Monday morning on a police bond.
According to police sources, she might be used as a prosecution witness in the case.
KENYAN ARRESTED IN THE US
A Kenyan was jailed for three years in the US for defrauding nuns and religious groups of more than $1 million (Sh76 million).
Edward Bosire, 40, appeared before US District judge Charles Clevert in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday.
The charge stated that Bosire, together with his wife Angelina Martin-Mulu, who was sentenced to three and a half years earlier in the month, swindled nuns and religious groups in Wisconsin while masquerading as political refugees from Kenya.
Assistant US Attorney Gordon Giampietro told the court the two swindled their victims by falsely claiming to be suffering from malaria and tuberculosis and in need of money to pay medical expenses.
He said through the scam, the defendants made enough money and bought two apartments in Chicago and Bolingbrook, Illinois.
"They lived lavishly and spent the rest of the money at casinos," he told an attentive courtroom.
Among the couple’s victims were nuns at the Pewaukee Monastery in Milwaukee, who gave the defendants more than $800,000 (Sh60.8 million).
Grand jury
Last March, acting US Attorney Michelle Jacobs announced a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin had returned a three-count indictment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) charged the defendants based on a year-long investigation. Bosire and his wife are Kenyans who arrived in the US in 1999 and were given political asylum in 2007.
Mid last year, the two pleaded guilty to the charges and agreed to pay close to $1 million in restitution.
And in mitigation, Bosire’s attorney Joshua Uller told the court on Friday that although his client had pleaded guilty, he only played a minor role in the fraud, as his wife was the mastermind.
According to court records, the couple had met and married in Kenya before coming to the US in 1999.
Documents presented in court indicated the wife had sought asylum in the US due to what she termed as the "fear of female genital mutilation" in Kenya.
Before giving his verdict, Judge Clevert said it was unfortunate Bosire and his wife had falsely presented themselves to unsuspecting victims as siblings who had fled political oppression in Africa.
The two are likely to face deportation after serving their sentences.
Edward Bosire, 40, appeared before US District judge Charles Clevert in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday.
The charge stated that Bosire, together with his wife Angelina Martin-Mulu, who was sentenced to three and a half years earlier in the month, swindled nuns and religious groups in Wisconsin while masquerading as political refugees from Kenya.
Assistant US Attorney Gordon Giampietro told the court the two swindled their victims by falsely claiming to be suffering from malaria and tuberculosis and in need of money to pay medical expenses.
He said through the scam, the defendants made enough money and bought two apartments in Chicago and Bolingbrook, Illinois.
"They lived lavishly and spent the rest of the money at casinos," he told an attentive courtroom.
Among the couple’s victims were nuns at the Pewaukee Monastery in Milwaukee, who gave the defendants more than $800,000 (Sh60.8 million).
Grand jury
Last March, acting US Attorney Michelle Jacobs announced a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Wisconsin had returned a three-count indictment.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) charged the defendants based on a year-long investigation. Bosire and his wife are Kenyans who arrived in the US in 1999 and were given political asylum in 2007.
Mid last year, the two pleaded guilty to the charges and agreed to pay close to $1 million in restitution.
And in mitigation, Bosire’s attorney Joshua Uller told the court on Friday that although his client had pleaded guilty, he only played a minor role in the fraud, as his wife was the mastermind.
According to court records, the couple had met and married in Kenya before coming to the US in 1999.
Documents presented in court indicated the wife had sought asylum in the US due to what she termed as the "fear of female genital mutilation" in Kenya.
Before giving his verdict, Judge Clevert said it was unfortunate Bosire and his wife had falsely presented themselves to unsuspecting victims as siblings who had fled political oppression in Africa.
The two are likely to face deportation after serving their sentences.
BLACKMAIL
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Monday accused its coalition partner Party of National Unity (PNU) and the National Security Intelligence Service of blackmail and launching a smear campaign against its leaders.
Party leaders Anyang' Nyong'o (Secretary General), Hassan Joho (Organising Secretary), Janet Ongera (Executive Director) and deputy chief whip Magerer Langat said it was as if PNU had never learnt from the “tragic experience of Kenyans following the debacle of 2007 presidential elections.”
The officials, together with deputy organising secretary Reuben Ndolo and vice-chair Lydia Kimani said PNU and the NSIS have been circulating a document purporting to be from ODM strategic Think Tank aimed at discrediting the party and its leaders in eyes of Kenyans.
“From the content (of the document), it can only serve the interests of PNU or its sympathisers. What is worse, however, is that it is meant to create despondency and political instability in Kenya,” Prof Nyong’o said.
Addressing journalists at Orange House in Nairobi, ODM said it had written to the NSIS in a letter copied to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to complain about the document titled “Fourth Quarter Memo” and demanded for investigations of its authors.
The party said a similar document was circulated in 2007 purporting to be from the ODM strategic team aimed at misinforming Kenyans and creating disaffection among communities.
“As a body in charge of security in this nation, I am requesting you to investigate the source of this document and to put a stop to such shenanigans aimed at sowing the seeds of hatred among Kenyans,” the letter to NSIS said in part.
It added that ODM remained committed to “open and clean” politics to promote democracy and good governance.
Prof Nyong'o warned that malicious political propaganda could affect healing and reconciliation efforts in the country and return the country back to chaos.
The document showed alleged plans by ODM to win elections, which it claims should be held before February 2011, and strategy for the party to penetrate various regions in the country.
Prof Nyong'o denied that there were divisions in ODM saying the party's strength lies in unity of the people more than harmony among leaders.
"We are not experiencing cracks. Although there are some differences we cannot gag people," he said.
The secretary general said threats by three ODM ministers to defy the party position and attend Cabinet meetings before current crisis in government were addressed were null and void, as no meeting had been held. He said the Cabinet couldn’t be called when the country was still in crisis.
MPs who have been insisting there is no crisis knew little what the government is about, he added.
"They are very far from centre of power," he said
Agriculture Minister William Ruto and a number of PNU MPs have been insisting there was no crisis in government contrary to Mr Odinga’s statements.
Mr Odinga has sought a meeting with President Kibaki to agree on various issues including action to be taken against ministers mentioned in graft.
The crisis heightened when President Kibaki reversed Mr Odinga's move to suspend Mr Ruto and Education Minister Sam Ongeri over scandals in their ministries.
Mr Ruto, Tourism Minister Najib Balala and Sports and Youth Affairs Hellen Sambili have vowed to defy ODM's stand and attend Cabinet meetings.
Party leaders Anyang' Nyong'o (Secretary General), Hassan Joho (Organising Secretary), Janet Ongera (Executive Director) and deputy chief whip Magerer Langat said it was as if PNU had never learnt from the “tragic experience of Kenyans following the debacle of 2007 presidential elections.”
The officials, together with deputy organising secretary Reuben Ndolo and vice-chair Lydia Kimani said PNU and the NSIS have been circulating a document purporting to be from ODM strategic Think Tank aimed at discrediting the party and its leaders in eyes of Kenyans.
“From the content (of the document), it can only serve the interests of PNU or its sympathisers. What is worse, however, is that it is meant to create despondency and political instability in Kenya,” Prof Nyong’o said.
Addressing journalists at Orange House in Nairobi, ODM said it had written to the NSIS in a letter copied to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to complain about the document titled “Fourth Quarter Memo” and demanded for investigations of its authors.
The party said a similar document was circulated in 2007 purporting to be from the ODM strategic team aimed at misinforming Kenyans and creating disaffection among communities.
“As a body in charge of security in this nation, I am requesting you to investigate the source of this document and to put a stop to such shenanigans aimed at sowing the seeds of hatred among Kenyans,” the letter to NSIS said in part.
It added that ODM remained committed to “open and clean” politics to promote democracy and good governance.
Prof Nyong'o warned that malicious political propaganda could affect healing and reconciliation efforts in the country and return the country back to chaos.
The document showed alleged plans by ODM to win elections, which it claims should be held before February 2011, and strategy for the party to penetrate various regions in the country.
Prof Nyong'o denied that there were divisions in ODM saying the party's strength lies in unity of the people more than harmony among leaders.
"We are not experiencing cracks. Although there are some differences we cannot gag people," he said.
The secretary general said threats by three ODM ministers to defy the party position and attend Cabinet meetings before current crisis in government were addressed were null and void, as no meeting had been held. He said the Cabinet couldn’t be called when the country was still in crisis.
MPs who have been insisting there is no crisis knew little what the government is about, he added.
"They are very far from centre of power," he said
Agriculture Minister William Ruto and a number of PNU MPs have been insisting there was no crisis in government contrary to Mr Odinga’s statements.
Mr Odinga has sought a meeting with President Kibaki to agree on various issues including action to be taken against ministers mentioned in graft.
The crisis heightened when President Kibaki reversed Mr Odinga's move to suspend Mr Ruto and Education Minister Sam Ongeri over scandals in their ministries.
Mr Ruto, Tourism Minister Najib Balala and Sports and Youth Affairs Hellen Sambili have vowed to defy ODM's stand and attend Cabinet meetings.
PARLIAMENT
Parliament re-opens on Tuesday to a heavy legislative agenda.
Top on the agenda is the debate on the harmonised draft constitution which is expected to be tabled in the house by the 25th of this month.
However, the 4th session of parliament starts on a supremacy battle as the grand coalition partners fight over the position of the leader of government business.
PNU has vowed to push for the amendment of the standing orders to give the president express powers to appoint the leader of government business in the house.
They want Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to take the position.
But a divided ODM has vowed to put up a spirited fight arguing Prime Minister Raila Odinga is suitable for the position since he is the supervisor and coordinator of all ministries.
Wrangling in the grand coalition government was sparked off by the suspension of education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri and his agriculture counterpart William Ruto by Prime Minister Raila Odinga a decision that was immediately over-turned by President Mwai Kibaki.
Top on the agenda is the debate on the harmonised draft constitution which is expected to be tabled in the house by the 25th of this month.
However, the 4th session of parliament starts on a supremacy battle as the grand coalition partners fight over the position of the leader of government business.
PNU has vowed to push for the amendment of the standing orders to give the president express powers to appoint the leader of government business in the house.
They want Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to take the position.
But a divided ODM has vowed to put up a spirited fight arguing Prime Minister Raila Odinga is suitable for the position since he is the supervisor and coordinator of all ministries.
Wrangling in the grand coalition government was sparked off by the suspension of education Minister Prof Sam Ongeri and his agriculture counterpart William Ruto by Prime Minister Raila Odinga a decision that was immediately over-turned by President Mwai Kibaki.
ANTI GRAFT
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo is seeking support for the re-introduction of an Anti- Corruption Policy into the draft Constitution.
Mr Kilonzo regretted on Monday that the policy that would have boosted the fight against graft was omitted in the draft expected to be tabled in Parliament after its resumption on Tuesday.
He expressed fears that the war against corruption was threatened by the failure to entrench the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission into the Constitution.
"Corruption affects all of us regardless of our social status,’’ Mr Kilonzo said and urged fellow Members of Parliament to support his bid.
The Parliamentary Select Committee of which Mr Kilonzo is a member struck out the proposal last month.
Various stakeholders have however lobbied the Committee of Experts, which is currently working on the draft, to reinstate the Commission.
The Minister made the remarks when he opened a week-long Anti-Corruption Agencies Forum and Development of a National Anti-Corruption Retreat in Mombasa.
He said the new policy on graft allows the impeachment of a sitting President and Cabinet Ministers among other new regulations.
The Minister said the new policy on graft would enable the government to witness the recovery of billion of shillings pilfered through Goldenberg and Anglo leasing scams.
Mr Kilonzo said he was sure that the country's economy would have been much richer were it not for corruption. He called upon government institutions to rise and be able to meet corruption challenges at their respective institutions.
The Minister said there is a dire need for synergy in the institutional arrangements for fighting corruption.
Mr Kilonzo regretted on Monday that the policy that would have boosted the fight against graft was omitted in the draft expected to be tabled in Parliament after its resumption on Tuesday.
He expressed fears that the war against corruption was threatened by the failure to entrench the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission into the Constitution.
"Corruption affects all of us regardless of our social status,’’ Mr Kilonzo said and urged fellow Members of Parliament to support his bid.
The Parliamentary Select Committee of which Mr Kilonzo is a member struck out the proposal last month.
Various stakeholders have however lobbied the Committee of Experts, which is currently working on the draft, to reinstate the Commission.
The Minister made the remarks when he opened a week-long Anti-Corruption Agencies Forum and Development of a National Anti-Corruption Retreat in Mombasa.
He said the new policy on graft allows the impeachment of a sitting President and Cabinet Ministers among other new regulations.
The Minister said the new policy on graft would enable the government to witness the recovery of billion of shillings pilfered through Goldenberg and Anglo leasing scams.
Mr Kilonzo said he was sure that the country's economy would have been much richer were it not for corruption. He called upon government institutions to rise and be able to meet corruption challenges at their respective institutions.
The Minister said there is a dire need for synergy in the institutional arrangements for fighting corruption.
RALLY
“Mimi niko na timu yangu na Kibaki ana yake. Pande hii kama moja namna hii...namna hii ...tunamwambia kaa kando (I have my team and Kibaki has his. If there is one on this side whose conduct is questionable, we will tell him to step aside),” he said at a rally in Nairobi's Kibera estate.
The PM’s suspension of Agriculture minister William Ruto and Education minister Sam Ongeri on Sunday last week was overturned by the President sparking a stand-off in the grand coalition. Mr Ruto is a deputy party leader in ODM while Prof Ongeri’s party, Kanu, is allied to PNU.
While overturning Mr Odinga’s order, President Kibaki said the PM had no powers to discipline Cabinet ministers. The show of power by the President triggered a cold war in the coalition with ODM declaring a crisis in government. Mr Odinga then invited the African Union and chief mediator Kofi Annan to intervene and resolve the crisis. His allies said they would boycott Cabinet meetings until the crisis was resolved.
On Sunday, Mr Odinga disagreed with the President about the state of affairs in the coalition and insisted there was a crisis which would be resolved when the two meet later this week. No clear date for the meeting has been set. “I talked with Kibaki and agreed we will sit, talk and solve the dispute. The fire is high and we want to contain it otherwise it will worsen. We want cordial and respectful talks. We want respect from both sides,” he said.
“Somebody asked me if there’s a problem and I said yes there is. But a problem always has a solution. There’s a fire and if we don’t stop it will burn”.
However, Mr Ruto played down the PM’s move to invite Mr Annan to help resolve the stalemate. “I do not think that declarations of disputes will in any way help build a country that we will all be proud of ... We should focus on issues and deal with them with the merit they deserve,” he said at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where he arrived shortly after the PM.
Mr Odinga, who has been away on official duty for a week, landed at JKIA at 6.25am and went into a meeting with a few of his allies, including Cabinet ministers James Orengo and Anyang Nyong’o, at Treasury Buildings starting from 11am. The meeting ended at 1pm.
Earlier, he had spoken on phone with Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey, also the ODM chairman and Regional Development Authority minister Fred Gumo who is abroad. Sources said the two-hour meeting explored the options available to the PM.
At the Kibera rally, Mr Orengo, Prof Nyong’o, Mr Jakoyo Midiwo and Nominated MP Musa Sirma all said Kenya must embrace good governance to develop. Mr Odinga said the coalition government was formed by two equal partners to help bring reforms and stressed that “what we want is respect in this country.” He added that Kenya required peace to bring about reforms. “The economy will not grow if we fight.”
The PM said ODM would state what it wants during the meeting with President Kibaki and that PNU would also be expected to say what it wants. He also urged ODM leaders to remain calm and await the outcome of his talks with the President. He said the country was entering a critical stage in the constitution-making process and urged Kenyans to be ready to vote.
And Mr Orengo said if corruption was to end “we must start with the big fish.” “A policeman once told me there’s no need to stop them from taking bribes while we are eating maize and pushing it down the throat with oil,” Mr Orengo said.
Mr Midiwo called for discipline in ODM saying most of the problems in the country were caused by some individual MPs in the party. The chief whip took issue with Mr Ruto for daring Mr Odinga to face him “if he was man enough” yet the PM was the appointing authority for ODM ministers.
He said the price of maize flour had shot from Sh40 for a 2kg packet to more than Sh100 since Mr Ruto took over as the Agriculture minister. Prof Nyong’o said Kenyans were concerned about maize and education scandals and that ODM as a party caters for the interests of all Kenyans without discrimination. He also called for “respect” from both sides of the coalition adding that leaders should stop abusing each other.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
RAILA & RUTO AT THE AIRPORT
Raila Odinga jetted back from a weeklong tour of Japan and Thailand on Sunday morning and assured Kenyans that the political standoff facing the coalition government would soon be resolved.
Though he declined to discuss politics and elaborate on the possible solution to the wrangles, the Prime Minister said the issue would be sorted out amicably by coalition partners.
"In school, I was taught that if there is a problem like a Mathematical problem, there is a solution, so they will tell you that this is the problem, solve it, so we have a problem and we are equal to it, we will solve in our own time," he said.
The Prime Minister left the country on Sunday after announcing the 'suspension' of Agriculture Minister William Ruto and his Education counterpart Prof Sam Ongeri but the decision was reversed within hours by President Mwai Kibaki.
Mr Odinga subsequently declared a 'crisis' in government and said he had invited former United Nations chief Kofi Annan who helped mediate a power sharing deal between him and President Kibaki to intervene.
On Friday, the Prime Minister's office sent a statement to newsrooms stating that Mr Odinga and the President were scheduled to hold a crisis meeting on Sunday to chat the way forward on the current political stand off in government but State House handlers immediately denied knowledge of the meeting.
An official at the Prime Minister's office on Sunday maintained there was a scheduled meeting between the two coalition partners at State House, Nairobi.
And even as the Prime Minister insisted there was a crisis which needs to be resolved, Agriculture Minister William Ruto with whom they have broken ranks later addressed journalists at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and urged "those declaring a crisis to concentrate their energies on delivering pre-election pledges."
"I do not think that declarations of disputes will any way help build a country that we will all be proud of, we should focus on issues and deal with issues with the merit they deserve," Mr Ruto said on arrival from Italy.
"Therefore, I don't think it is helpful to continue agitating for disputes, we should focus our energies on priorities that every Kenyan is looking out for from all of us as Government," he added.
On the PM's invitation to Mr Annan, Mr Ruto said: "Unless Kofi Annan is an idle man to find time all the time to come to our country I think he should find something more useful to do."
"The issues that have arisen are issues that are well within the management of those of us in government and those are issues we can deal with," he said and warned against "heightening tension in the country over very minor issues."
The Eldoret North Member of Parliament also insisted that he would not boycott cabinet meetings as directed by ODM Secretary General Anyang Nyong'o.
Though he declined to discuss politics and elaborate on the possible solution to the wrangles, the Prime Minister said the issue would be sorted out amicably by coalition partners.
"In school, I was taught that if there is a problem like a Mathematical problem, there is a solution, so they will tell you that this is the problem, solve it, so we have a problem and we are equal to it, we will solve in our own time," he said.
The Prime Minister left the country on Sunday after announcing the 'suspension' of Agriculture Minister William Ruto and his Education counterpart Prof Sam Ongeri but the decision was reversed within hours by President Mwai Kibaki.
Mr Odinga subsequently declared a 'crisis' in government and said he had invited former United Nations chief Kofi Annan who helped mediate a power sharing deal between him and President Kibaki to intervene.
On Friday, the Prime Minister's office sent a statement to newsrooms stating that Mr Odinga and the President were scheduled to hold a crisis meeting on Sunday to chat the way forward on the current political stand off in government but State House handlers immediately denied knowledge of the meeting.
An official at the Prime Minister's office on Sunday maintained there was a scheduled meeting between the two coalition partners at State House, Nairobi.
And even as the Prime Minister insisted there was a crisis which needs to be resolved, Agriculture Minister William Ruto with whom they have broken ranks later addressed journalists at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and urged "those declaring a crisis to concentrate their energies on delivering pre-election pledges."
"I do not think that declarations of disputes will any way help build a country that we will all be proud of, we should focus on issues and deal with issues with the merit they deserve," Mr Ruto said on arrival from Italy.
"Therefore, I don't think it is helpful to continue agitating for disputes, we should focus our energies on priorities that every Kenyan is looking out for from all of us as Government," he added.
On the PM's invitation to Mr Annan, Mr Ruto said: "Unless Kofi Annan is an idle man to find time all the time to come to our country I think he should find something more useful to do."
"The issues that have arisen are issues that are well within the management of those of us in government and those are issues we can deal with," he said and warned against "heightening tension in the country over very minor issues."
The Eldoret North Member of Parliament also insisted that he would not boycott cabinet meetings as directed by ODM Secretary General Anyang Nyong'o.
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