As Kenyans continue to ponder on the level of corruption that is rocking the Jubilee government that has seen billions of shillings being revealed to have been stolen from different government institutions and ministries, President Uhuru Kenyatta has been asked to break his silence on the latest scandal that is said to have led to the loss of over Kshs 5.5 billion in the ministry of health. CORD co-principal and Ford Kenya party leader Moses Masika Wetangula has noted that since the scandal was unveiled over two weeks ago through an audit report from the ministry linking many other people including relatives of the president, he has not uttered a word.
Speaking at a Bukusu Elders forum held at Mabanga Farmers Training Centre in Kabuchai constituency, Wetangula said that it is unfortunate that such things are taking place in the country yet the head of state is silent.
“We are witnessing the parliamentary committee probing suspects in the stolen Kshs 791 million from the National Youth Service although we know the amount is more than that and as that continues another scandal erupts in the health docket where over Kshs 5.5 billion is lost but as all this goes on the president is quiet and we only see his deputy trying weakly to defend some of the mentioned people. I call upon the president to break his silence and come out clear on this matter,” said Wetangula.
Flanked by Mps Dr Chris Wamalwa odf Kiminini, Dr. Esseli Simiyu of Tongaren, the host MP James Lusweti Mukwe, Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and nominated Patrick Wangamati, the senator said that the president should lead from the front in matters of fighting corruption in the country.
Wetangula alleged that the NYS money being probed is far much bigger than Kenyans imagine claiming that it is over Kshs 23 billion that got lost from NYS saying that Kenyans should be ready to witness more scandals being unveiled in loss of billions of shillings under the watch of the Jubilee administration.
He further said that what Kenyans are witnessing is only in two ministries hence the other 18 ministries should also be investigated to establish how the taxpayers’ money is being used.
Kiminini legislator Dr. Chris Wamalwa also urged the president to lead from the front in fighting the runaway levels of corruption that is rocking the country and ruining its economy and affecting desired development that Kenyans expect from the national and county governments.
“We all know that in the Jubilee government there is corruption everywhere where money is stolen left, right, centre and everywhere yet such money could do a lot of development for our people and that is why we are calling upon the President to lead from the front in fighting corruption in the country,” said Wamalwa.
The leaders who came from the Ford Kenya party to attend the forum that was led by the elders’ council chairman Richard Walukano urged the elders to give direction to the politicians and play a major role in determining the political destiny of the community.
They cautioned the elders against distancing themselves from politics and politicians arguing that the community shall not achieve economic and social empowerment without succeeding in acquiring political kingdom.
Don’t remove KDF troops from Southern Sudan, Uhuru told
At the same time Wetangula opposed the move by the president to order the withdrawal of the Kenya defense forces – KDF from the war-torn Southern Sudan in what was claimed as a result of sacking of one of the force commanders by the United Nations.
Wetangula said that the sacking of one army general does not warranty the withdrawal of the whole team of over 6000 officers who are keeping peace in the country that attained its independence five years ago.
“What the president is saying cannot be understood and cannot be accepted because Kenyan troops entered the country to keep peace through an agreement with the UN through the security council and therefore if one Kenyan commander has been sacked or relieved his duties cannot be the reason to withdraw our troops,” said Wetangula.
He pointed out that Kenyans have earned respect due to the previous peace keeping missions in Namibia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, East Timor, Eritrea, Yugoslavia and now in Sudan because we are always committed to bringing peace where there is conflict in countries,” added Wetangula.
“I therefore urge president Uhuru Kenyatta that before you decide to withdraw our troops from South Sudan you must first bring that matter to parliament because before they went it came to parliament as that is not a matter that you can decide on your own based on personal emotions and pride that is inexplicable because Kenyans are not aggrieved by one Kenyan general being sacked from the UN but will be proud to see the 6000-1 troops keeping peace in South Sudan,” said the senator.
The elders’ forum was organized by the county governments of Trans Nzoia and Bungoma where professionals, elders and other experts from the Bukusu community came together with the elders to share experiences and ways of promoting the unity of the community and exploitation of other avenues that can enable their people to be empowered politically, socially and economically.