I will not honor EACC summons, says Raila Odinga

Coalitions for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga insists that he will not honor summons by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to appear before it because it is not constitutional as presently constituted and that he has already provided the anti-graft body with all the information that they require through his lawyers.

Speaking during a news conference in Nairobi, Odinga said that there were glaring disparities in the figures being provided by the Treasury, and as such the truth must come out.

“It should be clear from the foregoing that the questions we are raising are policy, budget and public financial accountability questions,” stated Raila.

However, in an apparent rebuttal Deputy President William Ruto has said that the CORD leader must obey the law and the constitution he claims to uphold and as such he (Raila) should honor the summons to appear before the EACC, who have also maintained that they still expect Odinga to appear before them.

The EACC has summoned the CORD leader to provide the evidence he claims to have on the Eurobond saga, but a defiant former premier says he will not go.

Raila went further to state that he has no answers to give the anti- graft body. Instead, he continues to ask questions, whose answers he says are with the Treasury and the Central Bank of Kenya, where money flows can be easily tracked.

“We see no other reason to drag these questions into investigations of a criminal nature other than to divert attention from the demand for public disclosure in the first instance, and to bury the matter in court proceedings for as long as possible thereafter as happened with Goldenberg and Anglo-leasing frauds,” said Raila.

The opposition leader added that he will not honor the summons because from where he sits, the EACC in its very existence is in breach of the law.

“The EACC as presently constituted is unconstitutional. It is called the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, that means it must have commissioners, and as it is there is only one CEO and they have a history they did not help people during the chicken gate. The culprits are walking scot free so now how can I trust them?” posed Raila.

However, the government insists that Raila must walk the talk and honor the summons as prescribed in the law.

Speaking in Kericho County, Deputy President William Ruto said that no one was above the law and that engaging in non-factual information is akin to economic sabotage, “Those spreading propaganda or baseless politics in the name of fighting corruption are sabotaging the economy of the country.”

Jubilee MPs allied to the DP added that the CORDleader should stop using his apparent fight against corruption as a pawn in his 2017 political plan.

In an apparent rebuttal the CORD leader said he would not speak to the Jubilee lieutenants, but instead will address President Uhuru Kenyatta directly.

It will be interesting to see how the EACC will now treat the matter, as it still insists that Raila Odinga should appear before them Monday next week without failure or face unspecified action that could include prosecution.