NAIROBI, July 5 – Five Members of Parliament on Saturday urged Finance Minister Amos Kimunya to step aside over the Grand Regency hotel saga.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Martha Karua broke her silence and said it was important that all those mentioned in corruption step aside pending investigations.
Karua said investigations into the sale of the five star hotel will continue and she urged for patience.
“I also want to tell those holding demonstrations against the minister and yet they have similar cases to also be prepared to face the law,” she said.
Nominated MP Musikari Kombo also impressed upon Kimunya to resign.
“For all I know he might be innocent but until all investigations are completed, let him step aside”, he said.
He said he will move a motion in Parliament to nullify the sale of Grand Regency Hotel on Wednesday.
Medical Service Assistant Minister Danson Mungatana also said the minister should step aside saying that Kenyans were tired of corruption.
“If you have been mentioned in corruption, please step aside and allow investigations, he said.
Internal Security Minister George Saitoti said investigations must be done and that there is no need for witch-hunting.
Karua, Saitoti and Mungatana spoke in Kajiado South during the homecoming ceremony of area MP Katoo ole Metito.
Elsewhere, Cooperative Development Minister Joe Nyagah urged Kimunya to step aside and allow investigations regarding his involvement in the hotel saga to be carried out independently.
“Once investigations are complete, and he is clean, then he will be reinstated into the government,” Nyagah noted.
Meanwhile, a section of the Grand Coalition Government members are optimistic that the government will hold despite the on-going infighting.
While dismissing remarks by his Trade counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta that the coalition might collapse, Nyagah said members from the Orange Democratic Party had studied the workings of other coalition models in the world and he was confident that they would overcome the “teething problems.”
“These are the challenges one would expect from the government. We knew what we were getting ourselves into. The coalition will not fail.” Nyagah stated.
Separately, Medical Service Assistant Minister Danson Mungatana accused Uhuru of hypocrisy saying he was present in Parliament when the censure motion was passed and did not rise to defend Kimunya.
Nyagah noted that the two parties had very divergent views and the disagreements were therefore inevitable.
“Our policies do not always agree. We (ODM) support Majimbo, PNU doesn’t. So days will come when we disagree but, we should not kill Kenya,” the Cooperative Minister added.
He however said that despite the willingness of members from his party to work together with others, they were categorical that they would not tolerate issues such as corruption and mismanagement of public fund.
Nyagah also hailed the increased political awareness among Kenyans.
“This will help a great deal in keeping the government on check,” he said.
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