The latest move by Raila-led party, ODM to come into the defense of the government in the alleged funds misuse at Kemsa to procure the Covid-19 equipment has raised eyebrows to many.
In the past, Raila and ODM have always been the champion of exposing and making the government accountable for the corruption scandals that happen with the government but their latest twist will make you wonder what the party really stands for.
Ever since the handshake happened between Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, the ODM leader has gone quiet on matters graft. He has even been labeled the “corruption sanitizer” by some politicians.
When asked if he is in government or not, the ODM party has always maintained they are in the opposition. They might be right about that, but the question is who are they opposing, is it the government or the Deputy President William Ruto?
Of late ODM have only come out to strongly oppose the views by the Deputy President and not the government agenda.
Last week, ODM was quick to tear into DP William Ruto over his remarks that he will not be blamed for embezzled Covid-19 funds.
According to ODM general secretary Edwin Sifuna, it was out of order for a senior government official lie Ruto to go public and state that “at least now nobody will blame me for stealing Covid-19 funds”.
“This statement suggests that it is okay for the funds to be stolen if he is not to blame, or even more unsettling, it expresses the jealousy of being left out of the gravy train,” Sifuna said.
He further stated it was wrong for the Deputy President to make such remarks at a time when he should be helping President Uhuru Kenyatta to crack the whip on corruption cartels within the government.
“While cheering wrongdoing within the government” instead of acting against the menace. We must ask Ruto to either rise to the occasion and play the role of a DP, or ship out and let the President work in peace,” he added.
Yes, Sifuna talked about rising to the occasion, has his side risen to the occasion and made the government accountable for the scandal at Kemsa? That still remains unknown.
On Sunday Deputy President William Ruto took to his Twitter account and blasted the ODM party for supposedly taking advantage of the handshake between Raila and Uhuru for “personal gain” and to defend the corrupt activities at the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa).
“[That] the pretentious (former) Opposition, now turned Lords of corruption, attempted defense of the Covid-19 grand larceny is not shocking. It confirms the worst of Kenyans’ fears that their side of the handshake was never interested in the people’s good but opportunity to loot. What a shame,” Ruto posted on Twitter.
Speaking to a local Daily, Raila defended Kemsa and the Ministry of Health in general, saying the suspension of Kemsa CEO and other top managers was unnecessary and people have been making noise for nothing.
“We need to address corruption all the time. There are cases where there are real corruption and those where there are vested commercial interests that come out as corruption. On this issue of MOH…there is a lot of noise without any facts…no audit has been carried out to tell people how much money has been lost,” Raila told the Star on Friday during an interview.
On the other hand, Raila’s party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna come out gun blazing pointed an accusing media of sensationalizing the matter.
ODM dismissed allegations of corruption in the tendering process saying the reports were baseless and people should wait for a review by the Auditor General.
“We gather that the DCI has been called into Kemsa to investigate these matters. We, however, wonder how this can be so before a credible audit by the Auditor General is carried out to ascertain the veracity of these claims. The precedent has been set before, where the media goes on a sensationalist extravaganza, with half-baked information obtained from shadowy sources, ending up creating more problems than solutions,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna further went ahead to defend the inflated prices of Personal Protective Equipment saying the prices were bound to go up with the coronavirus pandemic.
- Where Raila Is Better That Uhuru
- Raila, Ruto Unite To Condemn The Government
- I will not die anytime soon-Raila, This week’s politics headlines at a glance
- Raila’s Reputation At Stake After ODM Senator Reveals Bribe Plot In The Senate
“It is important to note that as far as the prices of PPEs go, conventional wisdom must hold that such prices were lower before Covid-19 ravaged the whole world, and any current procurement has to come with higher values. Higher prices alone cannot, therefore, be a basis for doubting the probity of those who undertake these tasks,” he said.
However, Sifuna added that his party was not defending corruption but they first want an audit by the Auditor-General.
Responding to Ruto’s tweet, Sifuna said: “We asked for an audit. In which language is that a defense of theft? It is the hope of the actual thieves to disappear in the fog of the manufactured ‘outrage’. The worst of Kenyans’ fear is you being in charge, for we will lack words to describe the plunder that will ensue.”
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Soy MP Caleb Kositany both accused ODM of rushing to defend Kemsa, claiming senior party members are deeply involved in the tenders being questioned.
Kipchumba Murkomen also took to Twitter and weighed in the ODM outburst regarding the issues. Murkomen claimed that four senior ODM members are said to be the ghost suppliers of the Covid-19 equipment.
“I understand why the delinquent ODM secretary-general is ferociously defending the leeches who have sucked resources from desperate Covid-19 victims at Kemsa. First, ODM thinks they are more government than Jubilee. Secondly, four senior ODM members are the said ghost ‘suppliers’,” Murkomen said in a tweet.
In the past, ODM and Opposition Leader Raila has been the whistleblower of corruption scandals happening with the government. Raila unleashed the NYS scandal, the Eurobond, the Arror and Kimwarer dam scandal, and the Goldenberg. We are waiting to see if he will rise to the occasion this time too and condemn those looting from Kenya if the allegations are “true and verified”.
