Resign over graft claims, lobby tells Raila
Photo|ANTHONY OMUYA|NATION
James Mwangi of Kenyans for Good Governance (right) holds Miguna Miguna's book Peeling Back the Mask at a press conference in Nairobi on July 15, 2012. With him is Isaack Njogu.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga should step aside to pave way for investigations into allegations made against him by Miguna Miguna, a lobby group is demanding.
The Kenyans for Honest Governance group on Sunday said the allegations against the PM in Mr Miguna’s new book Peeling Back the Mask were too “serious” to be wished away.
“The claims contained in this book, if true, reflect negatively on the personal leadership and integrity of Mr Odinga in line with chapter six of the constitution,” said Mr Isaac Ngugi, the group coordinator.
Mr Miguna, Raila's former political adviser, claims that the Prime Minister’s office is a den of corruption.
According to Mr Miguna, two of the PM’s senior aides were involved in negotiations with Chinese officials for the supply of goods to the military worth billions which later led to the suspension of military officials over the procurement impropriety.
He also links the PM’s office to some of the scandals which have dogged Mr Odinga in the last four years, including the maize scam, the Kazi kwa Vijana initiative and the row at NSSF and NHIF.
Mr James Mwangi, another group official wondered why the concerned authorities are yet to start investigations into the claims, one week after the book’s release.
““This is a serious book. I consider it to be like the Watergate scandal that forced President Nixon of the USA to resign,” he said.
“Nobody in this country is indispensable. (Henry) Kosgey left and was later vindicated,” he noted.
And speaking during the book’s launch on Saturday, Safina Presidential Aspirant, Paul Muite asked the PM to come clean on the serious allegations instead of “fence sitting”.
“He should respond to the details in the book for Kenyans to know the real Odinga,” he said.
On Saturday, some Orange Democratic Movement members interviewed by the Nation said the party was considering several options to tackle the charges levelled against Mr Odinga in the book.
They said they would issue a public response in the course of this week.
