Stay put, Raila tells Cord leaders

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga (left) and senators Moses Wetang’ula and Hassan Omar share a light moment during the burial of Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s elder sister, Ms Lilian Mutua, at Mwamtsefu Village in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County, on April 4, 2015. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula said the naming of six out of 18 Cabinet secretaries in the corruption list has tainted the image of the Jubilee administration and it should pack up and leave.
• He added that although the list was not clear on who has been targeted at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the election agency has to be disbanded.

By FAROUK MWABEGE
More by this Author

By DANIEL TSUMA NYASSY
More by this Author

Cord leaders named in the graft report have been asked not to step aside.

The directive was issued by Cord leader Raila Odinga who rubbished the report, dismissing it as mere propaganda aimed at damaging other people’s reputations.

Addressing mourners at the burial of former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s sister Ms Lilian Mutua, at Mwamtsefu village in Lunga Lunga Sub-County, Mr Odinga said the Jubilee administration does not have the capacity to fight corruption.

Asking those mentioned in the corruption list to step aside was an indication of total failure and lack of competence on the part of the government, he said.

“These people in the government do not have the capacity to fight corruption and I, therefore, ask leaders who were mentioned in the report not to step aside because there is nothing in the claims,” he said.

Mr Odinga explained that the corruption report should have been taken to the Director of Public Prosecutions and not the presidency.

He added that as a show of commitment to the fight against corruption, it would have been better for the President to start dealing with “the high priest of corruption, who is next to you”.

“As Cord leaders, we shall continue to tell Kenyans the truth but they too know who the high priest of corruption is and we are telling the President to also look at him,” he said.

TAINTED THE IMAGE

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula said the naming of six out of 18 Cabinet secretaries in the corruption list has tainted the image of the Jubilee administration and it should pack up and leave.

Mr Wetang’ula said even if the list was fake, the outcome has clearly shown that the Jubilee leadership has failed to protect Kenyans and their interests.

 “We are saying if six of your Cabinet secretaries are tainted, you are equally tainted and if your Cabinet goes home, you also have the moral obligation to throw in the towel,” he said.

He added that although the list was not clear on who has been targeted at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the election agency has to be disbanded.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Kwale Senator Boy Juma Boy, Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar and Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama.

Mr Boy said there was no need for Cord leaders to step aside as even EACC commissioners dismissed the report once they were summoned before the Senate.

Mr Omar said if the Jubilee administration was committed to fighting corruption, then the entire government, and not just six Cabinet secretaries, should step aside.