RAILA TO SET UP A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE MAIZE SCANDAL REPORT

Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

NATION TEAM
February 11 2010

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said a technical committee will be formed to study the report on the maize scandal before any action is taken.

The report, which was made public on Tuesday, puts the maize deals at the time at Sh2 billion, out of which 500,000 bags cannot be accounted for. Most of it was lost in the irregular sale of subsidised maize in 2008.

The audit by PriceWaterhouseCoopers implicated senior government officials, among them permanent secretaries in the Prime Minister’s office, the Ministry of Special Programmes and that of Agriculture. Senior officials at the National Cereals and Produce Board were also mentioned adversely.

Mr Odinga, speaking at a Press conference held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, did not give details of the technical committee, only saying the government will act on its recommendations once it completes its work.

On Wednesday, the Agriculture minister William Ruto, defended himself over the scandal, appearing to shift blame on the ministry of Special Programmes. He said the role of sale and distribution of maize under the Strategic Grain Reserve was not a function of his ministry.

During a presentation of the report by PwC on Thursday, the PM was hard-pressed to answer queries regarding the scandal. He did not indicate when the committee would be formed or its composition.

The PM, whose two officials under his ministry, PS Mohammed Isahakia and principal secretary Caroli Omondi have been named in the report, was on Wednesday asked by a group of six MPs from PNU side of the coalition to resign, as a way of taking ‘political responsibility.’

The MPs said Mr Odinga “had to lead by example” to allow for investigations into the role played by his office in the maize scam.

Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, who also attended the Press conference, said the government spent Sh25 million in the investigation.

DISGUSTED KENYANS SPEAK OUT:

Submitted by kinyakenya
Posted February 11, 2010 03:46 PM

those who live in glass houses dont throw stones...Raila shed some light and show by an example

Submitted by Sunburn
Posted February 11, 2010 03:29 PM

When you are in a hole, stop digging. Raila has just damaged his credibility beyond repair. Nobody with sense will believe his anti-corruption crusade ever again, only the gullible and naive will.

Submitted by Chester
Posted February 11, 2010 03:01 PM

Raila can run but cannot hide this time around. He told Kenyans- Ongeri Must Go, but Ruto, his PS and AS must stay to await the outcome of a Techincal Committee. The PM is SCARED to say Ruto must go. He can never dare say Ruto must go...what a great leader.

Submitted by stunya
Posted February 11, 2010 02:40 PM

I love this! It was only a matter of time be4 Raila's true colours come to the open. Where has the PM's zeal on implicated individuals gone! Bwana PM you play politics on everything and you think Kenyans are stupid! You shld resign immediately for the corrupt deeds of your senior officers in your office! Go bake mandazis in Kibera!

Submitted by Pukks
Posted February 11, 2010 02:05 PM

This time round I will go with the Raila critics and say he should ask Dr Isakhakia and Caroli to step aside before this technical committee comes in. Failure to do that - I am sorry but that will be the end of a political career of a great son of Kenya in the name of Raila.

Submitted by Kathungu
Posted February 11, 2010 01:32 PM

Your Honourable PM, we saw you asking the Education Minister and his PS to step aside and allow investigations...We have heard politicians and others label you as an hypocrite and playing politics. Live to the challenge, walk the talk and lets see heads roll especially on ODM members involved in the maize saga.. No need of other technical teams, they are very expensive to the taxpayers. Let KACC move in, investigate and prosecute those involved period..

Submitted by vgogero
Posted February 11, 2010 01:29 PM

The report should be handed over to KACC or the AG for further action and those found guilty should carry their own cross .There should be no sacred cows .Anyone mentioned adversly should step down

Submitted by comprah
Posted February 11, 2010 01:22 PM

Corruption is corruption irrespective of who does it or the office in which it is done.I sincerely feel bitter as a Kenyan when I see double standards in serious issues of governance. Why would Prof Ongeri resign before any committee recommends so and another officer wait until a committee that has not been constituted gives its recommendations? Who will constitute the committee? Where will the alleged corrupt officers be during investigations? Will they still be in office? I feel disappointed.

Submitted by kingaiya
Posted February 11, 2010 12:54 PM

Why do Kenyans need another technical committee study the report on the maize scandal? We know that billions have been stolen from the public and we know the culprits and all we want to know is,where is our money hidden? We want the government accountants to follow these thugs,friends and relatives bank accounts and any amount that's not accounted for,i mean the source - should be frozen and put back in the public coffers till with immeadiate effect.

Submitted by Alimama
Posted February 11, 2010 12:42 PM

No one is being pressurised to resign this time round. Reason - the ball is in my court. I hope this one tells Kenyans that we need to dig deep for a new crop of leaders.

Submitted by betran
Posted February 11, 2010 12:40 PM

You should resign if you believe in free and fair investigations and if its found out that you are clean then we will happily welcome you back to your house. Looks like Kibera Mandazi prophesy is coming to be.

Submitted by PsonofK
Posted February 11, 2010 12:40 PM

hehe.. well played Sir.. masterfully done. I hope that Kenyans my country men, my kinsmen will understand there are no shortcuts to nation building... you want change - change the way you think so you can change our leaders completely.. no shortcuts. Then results will be seen

Submitted by kiumbani
Posted February 11, 2010 12:39 PM

we r now tired of all this circus. 1st appoint a commission of inquiry, then a committee to study the inital report, later a technical committee....spare us all this raila. act on the report as it is now. stop buying time. redeem your image

Submitted by wuod_aketch
Posted February 11, 2010 12:30 PM

The government spent Sh25million to investigate Sh2billion lost. A committee will also spend another Sh? million. All these millions and billions are not doing useful things for the wananchi. Corruption is very very expensive in the long run.