Waiguru to head new budget docket, Raila says, asks Rotich to resign

Waiguru to head new budget docket, Raila says, asks Rotich to resign

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula, Cord leader Raila Odinga and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka during a past press briefing.

Anne Waiguru, who resigned as Devolution CS, is set to become the "de factor Treasury boss" and head of civil service, Cord leader Raila Odinga has said.

Waiguru resigned last Saturday citing poor health and asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to reassign her lighter duties when she recovers.

"We have information that Waiguru, who was recently quoted as asking to be given light duties, is destined to be appointed to head [a new management and budget office in the presidency]," Raila said.

He said Waiguru is "poised to head the country's entire budget allocation as a light duty" yet she is yet to be cleared of allegations of corruption in the ministry.

He further questioned the Devolution ministry on its involvement in infrastructure development and the projects it has implemented.

Addressing the press at Capitol Hill in Nairobi on Tuesday, Raila asked Treasury CS Henry Rotich to resign over the Sh250 billion Eurobond fund, that is allegedly unaccounted for.

"We demand that Rotich and the Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge follow suit and resign to pave way for independent investigations into the Eurobond, followed by action that suits the crime," he said.

He criticised the government over the funds he maintained have not been accounted for terming it an "economic crime" that "borders on treason".

But Rotich said the government can account for every coin from Eurobond proceeds, contrary to claims the taxpayer was defrauded.

Regarding the renewed war on corruption, Raila congratulated Uhuru for "finally waking up to the reality and reporting to duty to confront what he and his administration have long refused to see".

But he said "that is as far as our congratulations go. We disagree with virtually every measure the President outlined", underlining actions need to be taken against graft.

Kenya does not need more laws and institutions but to make existing institutions, laws and regulations work, he said.

"What we need is a President committed to winning the war against corruption," he said, adding almost all institutions are plagued by tribalism.

"A critical body like the Public Private Partnership Committee has members from just two communities," he said.

The Cord leader said the coalition has enough material to question the integrity of at least another a third of the cabinet secretaries.

Uhuru suspended five CS's over corruption allegations and will be left with only 13 if he accepts Waiguru’s resignation.

"Our position is that the government as currently constituted is dysfunctional. The time has come for the president to dissolve it," he said.

He asked Uhuru to appoint a new cabinet and subject any persons retained from the former cabinet to a fresh round of parliamentary vetting.

The Opposition leader said the government must put in place credible mechanisms for lifestyle audits of all state and senior public officers.

"The government must identify all public offices that are hotspots for high-level corruption, particularly every state office and public officers heading departments in procurement, accounts and audit," he said.

Raila added that the financial transactions of all the holders of those offices and their families must be placed under continuous surveillance.

"We long questioned how some public officers are able to raise and spend Sh10 million on harambees every week, yet their salaries and businesses are known," he said.

 End

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula, Cord leader Raila Odinga and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka during a past press briefing.

Anne Waiguru, who resigned as Devolution CS, is set to become the "de factor Treasury boss" and head of civil service, Cord leader Raila Odinga has said.

Waiguru resigned last Saturday citing poor health and asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to reassign her lighter duties when she recovers.

"We have information that Waiguru, who was recently quoted as asking to be given light duties, is destined to be appointed to head [a new management and budget office in the presidency]," Raila said.

He said Waiguru is "poised to head the country's entire budget allocation as a light duty" yet she is yet to be cleared of allegations of corruption in the ministry.

He further questioned the Devolution ministry on its involvement in infrastructure development and the projects it has implemented.

Addressing the press at Capitol Hill in Nairobi on Tuesday, Raila asked Treasury CS Henry Rotich to resign over the Sh250 billion Eurobond fund, that is allegedly unaccounted for.

"We demand that Rotich and the Principal Secretary Kamau Thugge follow suit and resign to pave way for independent investigations into the Eurobond, followed by action that suits the crime," he said.

He criticised the government over the funds he maintained have not been accounted for terming it an "economic crime" that "borders on treason".

But Rotich said the government can account for every coin from Eurobond proceeds, contrary to claims the taxpayer was defrauded.

Regarding the renewed war on corruption, Raila congratulated Uhuru for "finally waking up to the reality and reporting to duty to confront what he and his administration have long refused to see".

But he said "that is as far as our congratulations go. We disagree with virtually every measure the President outlined", underlining actions need to be taken against graft.

Kenya does not need more laws and institutions but to make existing institutions, laws and regulations work, he said.

"What we need is a President committed to winning the war against corruption," he said, adding almost all institutions are plagued by tribalism.

"A critical body like the Public Private Partnership Committee has members from just two communities," he said.

The Cord leader said the coalition has enough material to question the integrity of at least another a third of the cabinet secretaries.

Uhuru suspended five CS's over corruption allegations and will be left with only 13 if he accepts Waiguru’s resignation.

"Our position is that the government as currently constituted is dysfunctional. The time has come for the president to dissolve it," he said.

He asked Uhuru to appoint a new cabinet and subject any persons retained from the former cabinet to a fresh round of parliamentary vetting.

The Opposition leader said the government must put in place credible mechanisms for lifestyle audits of all state and senior public officers.

"The government must identify all public offices that are hotspots for high-level corruption, particularly every state office and public officers heading departments in procurement, accounts and audit," he said.

Raila added that the financial transactions of all the holders of those offices and their families must be placed under continuous surveillance.

"We long questioned how some public officers are able to raise and spend Sh10 million on harambees every week, yet their salaries and businesses are known," he said.

 End