MPs want president to explain how Eurobond cash was spent
CORD MPs John Mbadi (centre), Fred Outa (left) and Oyugi Magwanga address journalists at Capitol Hill Towers in Nairobi on December 10, 2015. The MPs want President Uhuru Kenyatta to personally explain to Kenyans how the Eurobond cash was spent. PHOTO | JAMES EKWAM | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- ODM Party national chairman John Mbadi accused the Jubilee coalition of trying to “bury the matter by issuing misleading information to Kenyans”.
ODM lawmakers have asked for a breakdown of specific projects funded by Sh250 billion Eurobond money.
At the same time, Amani National Congress Party leader Musalia Mudavadi has appealed to the Jubilee government to give the Auditor-General time to do special audit on the Eurobond.
“It will give a basis for a proper debate,” he said, while addressing elders at St Monicah Primary school in Butula, Busia County.
The party leader is on a three-day tour of the county to popularise his party ahead of 2017 elections.
Mr Mudavadi said the report from the Auditor-General would solve the mystery surrounding the issue.
ODM Party national chairman John Mbadi accused the Jubilee coalition of trying to “bury the matter by issuing misleading information to Kenyans”.
“Kenyans must be shown specific roads and any other infrastructure whose construction was financed by the Eurobond money.
EXPLAIN HOW CASH WAS SPENT
“We fail to understand why the government has a problem with showing Kenyans where the money was spent,” said Mr Mbadi at a press conference at party leader Raila Odinga’s Capitol Hill office in Nairobi.
The MPs claimed the government understated domestic borrowing for the financial year 2014/2015 from Sh250 billion to Sh110 billion “in order to accommodate all the Sh250 billion in its budget accounts.”
Mr Mbadi, who is the Suba MP, said the contradictory information by government officials on the Eurobond was an indication that part of the cash was pocketed by senior people in the administration.
“Earlier this week, the Deputy President told us that a desk has been set up at the Treasury to answer all queries related to Eurobond. But we have established that there is no such desk nor information,” he added.
The opposition MPs urged President Kenyatta to personally explain to Kenyans how the cash was spent.
“President Kenyatta, being the head of government, should come out and explain to Kenyans how the Eurobond cash was used. This is because the buck of accountability to the people of Kenya stops with him,” said Mr Mbadi.
