Khalwale to CORD leaders Condemn graft in counties

Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale has challenged CORD leaders to replicate the zeal applied in fighting corruption at the national level of government to the counties.

Khalwale claimed that while opposition leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula have been vocal about corruption allegations in national government, they have been mum on county governors who were accused of engaging in fraudulent practices.

“Today, the most talked about person in regards to corruption is Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru due to allegations of corruption at the NYS. As we continue with the pressure, we urge co-principals to also speak against governors in CORD who are corrupt,” said Khalwale.

Khalwale urged CORD governors to use their county allocations to roll out meritorious projects that will set them apart from their compatriots in other counties.

“We are privileged as opposition to control the highest number of counties in Kenya. But when you are ranked number one in county allocation, you should also be number one in being exemplary in the kind of projects you are rolling out and number last in the index of corruption,” he said.

Other leaders present included Bungoma Senator Ford Kenya Moses Wetangula, Kisumu Senator Anyang Nyong’o, Siaya Senator James Orengo and Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro.

Currently 24 out of the 47 governors in the county were elected on a CORD ticket, which constitutes Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Wiper Democratic Moment, Ford Kenya and affiliate parties, with Jubilee holding 23.

Despite the numbers, CORD governors in some of the counties have found themselves in precarious positions since majority of Members of County Assemblies are from the Jubilee coalition, for instance in Kajiado and Mandera.

In recent weeks, there have been allegations of widespread corruption in counties in both Jubilee and CORD territories.

A fortnight ago, Bungoma County Government, led by New Ford Kenya leader Ken Lusaka (Jubilee), was accused of procuring ten wheelbarrows at a cost of Sh109,000 each while fellow Jubilee governor Joseph Ndathi from Kirinyaga County was accused of spending Ksh2 million to open a Facebook page.

Jubilee affiliated MCAs from Elgeyo Marakwet have been on the receiving end for spending public funds to travel to Congo for a brainstorming session on infrastructural development in the sports industry while their CORD counterparts from Migori have been accused of spending Ksh5.8M travelling to Dubai to learn about waste disposal among other issues.

CORD has, in several occasions, accused the government of double standards in its fight against corruption while pushing for the resignation of Waiguru over the loss of Sh791 million through fraudulent transactions.

In their latest attack during pro-teachers rally at Uhuru Park last week, CORD leaders, led by Raila Odinga called on the government to take action against Waiguru for the corruption allegations in her ministry.

The CORD leader further accused Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru of corruption, brushing off her recent threats of legal action against him.

“Recently, Waiguru threatened to go to court for my earlier pronouncements linking her to corruption. It is clear that the truth has finally come out,” Raila stated.

In an interview with Citizen TV’s Anne Kiguta on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Sunday, President Uhuru Kenyatta warned the opposition against name-calling, saying they should allow anti-graft agencies to execute their roles in the fight against corruption.