Kalonzo opens can of worms
Music group Afrizzo led by Hellen Mtawali (left) entertains guests at a breakfast meeting hosted by the United Bible Society in Nairobi on Monday. Photo/CHRIS OJOW
What you need to know:
- VP says theft of funds by ministers to fund political parties real cause of hunger
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka on Monday opened a new political war front when he accused some Cabinet ministers of using public funds to finance their parties.
Mr Musyoka said the ministers were to blame for the litany of problems facing the coalition government.
“It is like ministers are under instruction to steal as much as they can to fund their political parties... waiting for 2012,” said Mr Musyoka at a breakfast meeting hosted by the United Bible Society.
Real cause
The VP said the looting of the funds was the real reason why 10 million Kenyans were threatened with starvation, unemployment and poverty.
Mr Musyoka bluntly described a coalition government as “the worst form of governance” which allowed politicians to endanger people’s future with impunity.
“I must admit that a coalition government could be the worst form of governance that Africa has seen,” he said as Cabinet ministers Martha Karua, Hellen Sambili and assistant minister Gideon Ndambuki listened.
The VP’s sentiments were echoed by National Council of Churches deputy secretary-general Oliver Kisaka.
The church leader described the grand coalition as a kleptocracy — promoting the welfare of the ruling class at the people’s expense.
“Public funds are being diverted to areas of no benefit to Kenyans,” he said.
Mr Musyoka later turned the heat on the Church and said it had fallen short in the war on tribalism and corruption.
He said the Church had failed to unite Kenyans.
“Religious leaders, like politicians, should admit that they have let down Kenyans in advocating for justice and democracy,” he said, and expressed concern that corruption was not only taking root in some government departments, but also among religious groups, which were expected to provide moral leadership to the society.
Yawning deficit
His comments come at a time when the government is facing several cases of corruption and a yawning deficit.
Free education and school feeding programmes are near collapse due to lack of funds.
The religious leaders were asked to pray for national healing and reconciliation as this was the only way to unite Kenyans.
