Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga at a past interview. Dr Mutunga said on
October 30, 2015 that corruption and incitement are the biggest threats
to Kenyans ahead of the 2017 General Election. PHOTO | JACOB OWITI |
NATION MEDIA GROUP
Corruption and incitement are the biggest threats to Kenyans
ahead of the 2017 General Election, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga said
Friday.
Politicians who are beating drums of war ahead
of the polls should be tamed, he said during the launch of a democracy
and justice campaign programme in Nairobi.
“As we head
towards elections, the drums of possible violence are being beaten ...
and if you haven’t heard them, then you don’t know anything about this
country,” he said.
He warned that the incitement on ethnic lines could explode into violence during the polls.
And he added that corruption and public finance management are issues that require a “strong mental shift” by leaders for Kenyans to benefit from the Constitution.
And he added that corruption and public finance management are issues that require a “strong mental shift” by leaders for Kenyans to benefit from the Constitution.
“Only a strong social movement will save us from this precipice,” he added.
Devolution was the best way for Kenya to develop, as long as national leaders remain accountable to public resources.
“The
main challenge is how the resources will be equitably shared between
the national and county governments. For this to happen, serious mental
shift in the national government, Parliament and particularly the
Treasury must take place,” he argued.
“I do not see any
realisation on the part of the public service that will own public
resources in trust for its owners; the Kenyan citizens. The civil
society must help in facilitating those critical mental shifts.”
“If
you can convince the Treasury that the money they keep belongs to us,
and not them, you would have succeeded in helping this country.”
EUROBOND CONTROVERSY
Dr
Mutunga’s apparent jibe at the Treasury comes amid claims that Sh250
billion raised at the Eurobond has not been properly accounted for.
The
money, raised to finance infrastructure projects has been hit by
controversy with the Controller of Budget, who is the custodian of all
public funds, saying it was deposited in an offshore account and spend
without her authority which is unconstitutional.
Treasury
Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich has said part of the money (Sh53
billion) was used to repay a loan while Sh196 billion was shared out to
various ministries for infrastructure projects.
The
corruption-plagued Devolution ministry, which received Sh44 billion, has
failed to identify any specific project the cash was spent on.
Opposition
leader Raila Odinga has claimed the money was traded in by senior
officials in the Jubilee government who pocketed the interest.
Dr
Mutunga called on the civil society and the media to increase pressure
on those who have started engaging in hate speech as a deterrence.
“The
civil society groups brought together on this programme should
constitute themselves into a social a movement and become a beacon for
other movements that are under a united, democratic, peaceful and
progressive country.
The view was echoed by the
grouping of protestant churches who said the government must do more to
discourage hate speech both on social media and in public rallies.
“Kenya
remains divided along ethnic lines. One of the factors causing the
strong ethnic identity situation is that tribes are used as channels to
acquire resources; political mobilisation and address problems. One’s
ethnicity opens doors, and also closes some,” Canon Rev Peter Karanja,
General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK)
told the gathering.
“As the country prepares for
General Election in 2017, there must be convincing engagement on
national values dialogue and work very seriously to enhance cohesion,”
he added.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE
On Friday, the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi launched a Sh525-million programme to last two years and which will focus on democracy, human rights and access to justice.
On Friday, the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi launched a Sh525-million programme to last two years and which will focus on democracy, human rights and access to justice.
Known as the Democracy
and Human Rights Programme, the project will be implemented by Swedish
missionary group Diakonia but 11 Kenyan civil society and religious
groups, including NCCK, will receive funding to educate the public on
their rights, access to justice and the need for accountable leaders.
“We
are launching this programme because commitment to democracy, human
rights and justice are the cornerstone of Swedish foreign policy,
Swedish Ambassador Johan Borgstam told the audience.
The
programme is being launched at a time when a number of politicians have
been accused of making inflammatory remarks meant to incite Kenyans.
Political
analyst Mutahi Ngunyi, senators Johnson Muthama (Machakos), Isaac Melly
(Uasin Gishu) and Ali Bulle (Tana River), and Gatundu South MP Moses
Kuria have recently been in soup over alleged hate speech and incitement
to violence.
Mr Ngunyi was charged with ethnic contempt over comments he reportedly wrote on Twitter about the Luo community.
POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
He denied the charges and was released on a Sh200, 000 cash bail or a Sh500, 000 bond with one surety of a similar amount.
Last
week, former Nairobi Mayor and ODM Nairobi chairman George Aladwa was
arrested for allegedly stating that some must people will die if Cord
leader Raila Odinga were to be president in 2017.
The comments were deemed hate speech although Mr Aladwa and his party have contested the labelling.
Mr Muthama on his part argues the charges are politically motivated.
He too, was released the on a Sh100, 000 cash bail pending a hearing on February 16, 2016.
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