Graft questions hang over 10 ministers in wake of scandals

• PNU and ODM try to outdo each other in revealing cases of financial impropriety

The doctrine of political responsibility has been put to test following recent revelations of corruption in various ministries headed by politicians from either side of the coalition government.

At least 10 ministers have faced questions over claims of financial impropriety affecting their dockets, even as ODM and PNU try to outdo each other in exposing graft scandals affecting their opposite sides.

The latest politician to be put under intense pressure to step aside is Deputy Prime Minister and Local Government minister Musalia Mudavadi following the City Council’s attempt to buy a 120-acre parcel of land meant for a cemetery at a price more than 10 times its value.

His permanent secretary Sammy Kirui was kicked out of office by President Kibaki this week, in the wake of a scandal involving the loss of more than Sh200 million from the council due to the inflated price of the cemetery land.

Mr Mudavadi’s ODM party has protested at “selective targeting” of its key members in corruption scandals.

On Friday, human rights groups asked ministers whose dockets had been linked to graft to take political responsibility and step aside to restore public confidence in the government.

It was wrong, the groups argued, for permanent secretaries to carry the dragon of administrative responsibility and quit only for their bosses to distance themselves from taking political responsibility.

Already, PSs Karega Mutahi (Education), Mohammed Ali (Special Programmes), Mohammed Isahakia (Office of the Prime Minister) and Romano Kiome (Agriculture) have stepped aside after their ministries were hit by corruption scandals.

Tourism’s Rebecca Nabutola had earlier quit after the ministry lost millions of shillings last year.

PSs are the ministries’ chief accounting officers. The ministers are in charge of policy issues and are usually consulted to give direction in major issues although they may not be the signatories.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has, however, asked ministers whose dockets are affected by their scandals to quit. He recently put Education minister Sam Ongeri under pressure to step aside following the loss of Sh103 million meant for teachers’ workshops and seminars.

The PM went ahead to suspend the minister and his Agriculture counterpart William Ruto.

Mr Ruto’s ministry had been at the centre of a scandal involving the sale of cheaper maize subsidy in 2008. It is under Mr Ruto’s watch that the Sh2 billion graft took place.

The suspensions were, however, reversed by President Kibaki hours later.

Other ministries have recorded corruption allegations, for which they could be called upon to take responsibility. They include Mrs Charity Ngilu (Water), Mr Kiraitu Murungi (Energy), Mr Najibu Balala (Tourism) and Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere (formerly Transport).