Raila reacts to reports on ‘looming government reshuffle’

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has dismissed reports claiming that he is working behind the scenes pushing for a government reshuffle in the wake of an ongoing purge on corrupt State officials.

On Sunday, a local daily claimed that President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to carry out a major reshuffle that could affect a number of Cabinet and Principal Secretaries whose ministries have been adversely mentioned in corruption.

The alleged changes, the paper claimed, are set to accommodate Mr. Odinga’s interests in government, by having individuals favoured by the former premier replace officials who would be sent home.

However, in a statement to newsrooms, Mr. Odinga, through his spokesman Dennis Onyango, dismissed the reports as “malicious and meant to undermine the war against graft.”

“Raila Odinga has read with deep concern and disappointment reports appearing in the Standard Newspaper of an alleged looming reshuffle in government as a result of the ongoing corruption probe and his hand in the so-called reshuffle,” reads the statement.

“Mr. Odinga takes great exceptions to this attempt by the Standard to use his name to provide refuge to the corrupt by implying that the crackdown on graft is merely an attempt by him to take “his people” into government. He finds the reporting malicious, retrogressive and diversionary and merely meant to undermine the war on graft while failing to take cognizance of the interest of the Kenyan public.”

The opposition chief maintained he supports and is committed to aiding in the war against corruption.

“He fully backs the current crackdown on individual State officers and business people over the loss of billions of public funds and fully supports the tough stand by President Uhuru Kenyatta on this matter,” the statement further reads.

In his Madaraka Day speech, President Kenyatta on Friday announced that all heads of procurement and accounts in Government ministries, departments, agencies and parastatals will undergo fresh vetting including polygraph testing, to determine their integrity and suitability.

“Those who shall fail the vetting will stand suspended. I expect this exercise to be concluded before the start of the new financial year (FY 2018/2019). You will hear of other tougher actions in the days to come,” President Kenyatta said.