Khalwale faults President Kenyatta’s silence on NYS scandal

Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale has questioned President Uhuru Kenyatta’s silence on the ongoing National Youth Service (NYS) scandal.

Khalwale said the president and his deputy William Ruto are awfully quiet on the issue that has dragged in National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and Senate’s Deputy Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen.

He said the scandal, which allegedly touches on former Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru, Duale, who is also the Garissa Township MP, and Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet Senator) should warrant the attention of the Head of State and relevant action taken to bring individuals responsible to book.

“Several key officials in the Jubilee Government, including Waiguru (former Cabinet Secretary), Duale and Murkomen have been named in the NYS scandal and yet the president and his deputy are silent on the matter,” he stated.

“The silence by the president and his deputy gives us (the opposition) an impression that they are also beneficiaries of the NYS scandal,” claimed Khalwale.

He called on the president to tame corruption in government by taking action against state officers implicated in the same.

The Kakamega senator was speaking at a funeral ceremony in Likuyani Constituency, Kakamega County.

Khalwale’s call comes days after Murkomen, Duale and Deputy President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet were named in an affidavit sworn by Waiguru in connection to the loss of Sh791 million at the NYS.

In the affidavit, Murkomen and Duale were accused of intimidating former acting Senior Deputy Director General of NYS Adan Harakhe and impede his purported attempts to reveal a plot to fleece the department through fraudulent transactions.

Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter has also been on the forefront in calling for the resignation of Duale and Murkomen over the scam, a call that has also been echoed by Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and CORD leader Raila Odinga.

Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi has also asked the Jubilee Government to take responsibility and address the several scandals that have rocked it since taking office in 2013.

Both Murkomen and Duale have however distanced themselves from the allegations, accusing Waiguru of employing diversionary tactics in the NYS scam.

@benjaminwafula