Uhuru defends his Chief of Staff over Afya House scam

President Uhuru Kenyatta has defended his Chief of Staff, Joseph Kinyua, over the authorization of funds to pay Ministry of Health suppliers.

Speaking in Kandui, Bungoma County, the President said that Kinyua committed no offence as the monies were used for the purpose they were intended; buying of medical supplies.

The Head of State was responding to claims that Kinyua irregularly authorized the payment of Ksh 400 million to Afya House suppliers even as the Ministry of Health faces audit queries over the alleged loss of Ksh 5.1 billion through dubious payments.

He termed the claims as political adding that they have no place in Jubilee’s administration.

“We are not interested in petty politics like our friends on the other divide. Our interest is on politics of development that will lead to a better life for every citizen,” said President Kenyatta, who spoke in Swahili.

“You have seen in the newspapers someone claiming that Kinyua, State House’s Chief of Staff, violated the law by authorizing payment to some Ministry of Health suppliers.”

President Kenyatta said that the money was used for the intended purposes and Kinyua was within the confines of the law to authorize the payment.

“Did you (Bungoma residents) want that money to remain in Nairobi or you wanted it to be used to upgrade and equip your hospitals?” queried the President.

“If we have achieved this and the hospitals are now better, what is the problem?”

He said that Jubilee has no time for politicking but it is focused on delivering on its campaign promises to the electorate.

He further accused CORD leader Raila Odinga and the opposition of propagating division among Kenyans by painting Jubilee’s development agenda as a failed one.

“When they were in the government, what did they achieve? What did they do all that time they served as leaders? When Jubilee brings development to the people, it becomes a problem. What exactly do they want?”

He called on the voters to reject politics of division and embrace unity ahead of the 2017 election saying that incitement will not lead the country to any fruitful gains.