PM told to resign over jobs scandal
Gideon Maundu | NATION
Prime Minister Raila Odinga (second left) and his deputy Musalia Mudavadi before they were led into Kaya Duruma in Ngoni village, Kinango District on October 23, 2011. Five ODM MPs have accused their PNU counterparts of creating bad blood between Mr Odinga and President Kibaki.
Leaders of the G7 political grouping have called on Prime Minister Raila Odinga to resign after a World Bank report implicated officials at his office for misusing funds meant for the Kaji kwa Vijana project.
Led by Eldoret North MP William Ruto, the legislators said the PM should take political responsibility as the funds were under his direct watch.
Mr Ruto, who was accompanied by Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa and his Turkana Central colleague Ekwee Ethuro, said there should be no scared cows during investigations into the scandal.
Political responsibility
“He must take political responsibility by stepping aside to allow for investigations,” said Mr Wamalwa. (READ: World Bank cancels funding for Kazi Kwa Vijana over graft)
The Saboti MP said he would raise the issue in Parliament and demand the names of those who misappropriated the cash.
Mr Ruto and his colleagues spoke during a G7 campaign rally at Nambale Town, Busia County.
The G7 team has for the last two days held rallies in Port Victoria, Funyula and Matayos Trading Centre to drum up support for the group.
In Nairobi, activist Okiya Omtatah, who is also the executive director of Kenyans for Justice and Development Trust said the Kazi kwa Vijana kitty was dogged with corruption and asked Mr Odinga to step aside to allow for investigations.
“Our demand that the PM clears his name is informed by past scandals like the Triton and maize sagas that have pointed directly at him but remain unsolved,” Mr Omtatah said.
The World Bank has cancelled the Sh4.3 billion project after an external audit revealed that officials at the Office of the Prime Minister had misappropriated the funds.
