NAIROBI, Kenya Oct-25-The parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says it may summon Prime Minister Raila Odinga to respond to allegations of misappropriated Kazi kwa Vijana funds.
PAC Chairman Dr Boni Khalwale said a committee meeting in the morning had resolved to study audit reports from the World Bank and the Auditor General after which those who are cited will be summoned.
“Based on the reports, we will do among other things asking the Prime Minister to appear before the PAC.”
He said that the Prime Minister will be required to take political responsibility for the scam and that the committee will urge him to step aside to facilitate investigations into the matter.
“We will not play politics with this serious issue; however this is not the first time that this is happening to ministers. The bottom line as we ago about these investigations is that the same standards which were applied to William Ruto and Education Minister Ongeri will also be applied on the Prime Minister as and when necessary,” he reiterated.
Odinga is set to address Parliament on the Kazi Kwa Vijana funds on Wednesday next week, after Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa sought a ministerial statement on the issue.
Calls for the PM to take political responsibility also notched up on Tuesday with the Assistant Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Kabando wa Kabando calling on the PM to step aside
Kabando accused the PM of micro managing the Kazi Kwa vijana program and being selective in the fight against graft.
“This country is witnessing a very worrying reality, the Prime Minister is selective. If his office or allies are implicated in sleaze he has hesitation to act, if it is his PNU rivals then he unleashes his Trojan horses,” said Kabando at Parliament buildings.
“We have cautioned him to cease micromanaging youth affairs, but he won’t listen because he is captive of forces of gluttony,” Kabando insisted.
“The chickens are coming home to roost,” he added.
The World Bank had allocated Sh4.3 billion to finance projects under the programme but has suspended funding following revelations of misappropriations
Last Sunday, members of the G7 Alliance demanded that PM Raila Odinga takes political responsibility for the scandal. Led by Eldoret North MP William Ruto, they said those who are in charge of the programme should bear full responsibility.
“The initiative was a conduit to steal public money. That is why I opposed it from the beginning,” Ruto stated, adding that the way the initiative was designed was suspect.
On Sunday, Ruto said it would be immoral for the taxpayer to shoulder the burden.
“How can the taxpayer pay for the crimes committed by people who are still in office?” wondered Ruto.
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