ODM calls for the resignation of health PS, former CS threatens mass protests

ODM calls for the resignation of health PS, former CS threatens mass protests

The Orange Democratic Party has vowed to hold mass protests starting Tuesday next week if top officials in the health Ministry will not resign by Monday over the alleged loss of Ksh5b at Afya House.

Led by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, ODM insists that former Health CS James Macharia and Principal Secretary Nicholas Muraguri must resign from office since they were in charge when the money was allegedly stolen.

“In the circumstances, Mr Macharia and PS Nicholas Muraguri must vacate office to give the law enforcement agencies room to take action against all those who are culpable,” read a statement sent to newsrooms on Friday.

ODM has however lauded Health CS Cleopa Mailu for a job well done saying he made it possible for the theft to be unearthed by commissioning an internal audit.

This comes barely a week after Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of shielding government officials implicated in corrupt dealings.

Speaking at the ODM National Governing Council meeting at Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on Monday, Mr Odinga said that President Kenyatta has been unwilling to clamp down on individuals named in corruption owing to his close relations with them.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta is unable to crack the whip on those implicated in corrupt dealings because they are his cronies and he stands to gain from their underhand dealings,” claimed Raila.

Raila called for action on the alleged loss of Ksh5 billion at the Ministry of Health, rubbishing assertions that the government was investigating the allegations – assertions made by CS Cleopa Mailu and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

On Thursday, Health CS Cleopa Mailu was grilled for six hours at the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) headquarters over the alleged Afya House scandal.

Mailu is also expected to appear before the Senate Health Committee on Tuesday Next week to answer queries into the Ksh.5 billion scandal at his Ministry.

Speaking in Mombasa, chairperson of the committee, Wilfred Machage, said they would grill the CS on the matter on Tuesday next week.

Tags:

raila odinga afya house scandal odm resignation protests Health CS mass protests Health Cabinet Secretary Cleopa Mailu Health principal secretary Nicholas Muraguri Demo PS threatens

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