Push mounts for Ongeri to quit

• PS also asked to leave office after Sh100m free learning cash was lost in scandals

Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday renewed calls for Education minister Sam Ongeri and his permanent secretary to step aside to allow independent investigations into the loss of Sh100 million for free primary education.

Asking the two to step aside did not mean that they had been sacked, Mr Odinga said.

“We want the two to just step aside and allow investigations so that they don’t influence the outcome,” said the PM during a funeral in Nangina village, Samia.

The two would be reinstated once they were cleared of any wrongdoing, he said.

Pressure continued to mount on the minister and PS Karega Mutahi to quit over the loss of the money.

Migori MP John Pesa asked President Kibaki to suspend the two officials. He said there was no way investigations into the disappearance of the Sh100 million could be carried out when they were still in their offices.

US ambassador Michael Ranneberger said corruption was a disease which should be fought by every Kenyan.

The PM asked President Kibaki to suspend Prof Ongeri and Prof Mutahi until the investigations were concluded during an anti-corruption workshop of PSs and parastatal chief executives at the Kenya Institute of Administration on Friday.

But Gender and Children Affairs minister Esther Murugi, Youth and Sports minister Hellen Sambili, Cooperative Development assistant minister Linah Kilimo and Kilgoris MP Gideon Konchellah cautioned that the war on corruption should not be used as a political tool to fight opponents.

Prof Sambili and Ms Murugi said thorough investigations should be carried out to establish whether Prof Ongeri and his PS were involved in the loss of the funds and they should not be sacrificed for the mistakes of their juniors.

Mr Konchellah said the buck stopped with President Kibaki and Prime Minister Odinga.

“The President and the PM being the appointing authorities should ensure that action is taken against those involved.”

Planning minister Wycliffe Oparanya also defended Prof Ongeri, arguing that permanent secretaries must be held accountable as they were the accounting officers.

“The best thing here is not to be so hard on Mr Ongeri to quit but let the permanent secretary tell us who siphoned the education funds,” said the minister.

Additional reporting by Lucas Barasa, John Shilitsa and Maurice Kaluoch