MINISTERS ONGERI AND RUTO SUSPENDED OVER GRAFT

By MUTAHI BASSE
SUNDAY NATION
February 14 2010

Cabinet ministers Prof Sam Ongeri and William Ruto have been suspended for three months following corruption scandals at their respective ministries.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced the suspension of the ministers at a Press conference on Sunday, and said he had consulted with the President regarding the move.

He said the move was "a government decision and I have quoted the relevant section under the National Accord" that allowed him to announce the suspension.

“In exercise of the authority vested in the Prime Minister in accordance with the provisions of section 15 (a) of the constitution, and section 4 (1) of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, which confer on me also the authority to supervise the execution of the functions and affairs of the government, including ministries, I am hereby suspending with immediate effect the following ministers for a period of three months: Honourable William Ruto, Minister for Agriculture and Honourable Samuel Ongeri Minister for Education."

The move follows Saturday's suspension of eight senior government officials including permanent secretaries and parastatal heads mentioned in a corruption scandal involving subsidised maize.

The purge on Saturday claimed PSs Dr Romano Kiome (Agriculture), Mr Ali Mohammed (Special Programmes) Prof Karega Mutahi (Education) and Dr Mohammed Isahakia (Prime Minister's office.) Prime Minister's chief of staff Mr Caroli Omondi and three senior managers at National Cereals and Produce Board were also suspended.

On Sunday, PM said the ministers were suspended following the reports by PricewaterhouseCoopers and Internal Auditor General on Free Primary Education which "laid credible foundations for the two ministers to be investigated."

He said it was important for the two to 'step aside' to allow the government to conduct independent and comprehensive investigations. This, he said, would determine their culpability and if there was need for them to be prosecuted.

"The decision taken will result in gathering evidence to determine if any individuals need to be prosecuted in the these two scandals,” the PM said

A report released to the public last week regarding the maize scandal put the cost of the deals at Sh2 billion, of which 500,000 bags worth Sh850,000 could not be accounted for, and most of it was lost in the irregular sale of the subsidised maize in 2008.

Last week Mr Ruto, defended himself over the scandal, appearing to shift blame to the ministry of Special Programmes. He said his ministry was not responsible for the sale and distribution of cereals, the process under which money was lost in questionable deals.

The Education ministry scandal on the other hand, involves the loss Sh103 million Free Primary Education money through fictitious workshops attended by ghost participants

COMMENTS:

Submitted by sam854
Posted February 14, 2010 04:17 PM

We have seen same thing in the past. Kimunya,Kiraitu are back in the cabinet.What we need is strong actions to show that they wont find there way back. Its our country we are running down people.

Submitted by zach
Posted February 14, 2010 04:09 PM

First thank you to PricewaterhouseCoopers for the "deadly report". Secondly, thank yoy to the person who leaked the report to the media after it had started gathering dust. Going forward, PwC should be given all those investigations to do and more leakers should be put in public office. What about Special Programmes? The PM didn't want to mess up her valentine date??

Submitted by Samur
Posted February 14, 2010 04:02 PM

The investigation should tell the truth,they should not be based on witch handing.The clean should get back their jobs.The ministers should be judged on accountability in the ministries but not party matters.