Mwakwere defends Cabinet on graft claim

The Bunge

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A Cabinet minister yesterday denied claims that corruption was entrenched in the highest organs of Government. Transport minister Chirau Mwakwere defended his colleagues and accused Mr George Khaniri (Hamisi, Narc) of misleading members that grand corruption was the order of the day in the Cabinet.

In his contribution to the presidential address, the Hamisi MP had claimed that having worked in the Kanu and Narc administrations as an assistant minister, he had observed that high stakes corruption had gone up.
Lip service

Mr Khaniri took issue with President Kibaki for pledging to fight graft when he took over four years ago while his Government was giving lip service to the war on corruption.
The MP maintained that graft had increased and not decreased since Kanu was defeated at the 2002 polls.

Asked the minister: ‘‘Is the member in order to use hearsay to accuse ministers of getting billions of shillings in graft compared to their colleagues in the Kanu regime who used to get millions.’’
But when asked to substantiate, Mr Khaniri said he did not have to state the obvious as he had heard it on the city streets.

In his contribution, the Transport minister appealed to members to start investing in aeroplanes and helicopters to carry out their duties in their respective constituencies. Mr Mwakwere, the MP for Kinango, described MPs as busy people who should use air transport to conduct their duties in their respective areas.

Said Mr Mwakwere: ‘‘MPs should not shy away from approaching financial institutions for loans to buy helicopters!’’

But the minister denied claims by his critics that he was ‘‘sleeping on the job’’ by not acting on the matatu menace, saying the police were responsible for enforcing the law.
Meanwhile, Mr Nicholas Biwott (Keiyo South, Kanu) supported proposals to increase the number of judges from 50 to 200, but demanded that all corners of the country be represented.
Shield and defender
Said the former Cabinet minister: ‘‘Justice is the basis of stability and we must ensure that justice remains our shield and defender.’’

Mr Biwott told members that graft was caused by greed and not only by poverty. He said good laws alone would not stem graft, and more must be done to educate the public on the negative impact it has on the economy and the livelihoods of ordinary people.

Daily Nation

Story by NATION Reporter Parliament Publication Date: 4/4/2007