Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko has turned against Aden Duale and Kithure Kindiki to support opposition leader Raila Odinga on his Eurobond claims.
Sonko,who has been quiet since his father died, said Raila has a point and the government should not dismiss his claims without listening to him.He added that corruption is a national issue which should be fought by everyone.
Below is Sonko’s full message on the Eurobond saga:
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the fourth estate,
For a few weeks, Kenyans have heard, seen and read allegations and counter allegations on war surrounding the Euro Bond money and corruption at large. My support to H.E Uhuru Kenyatta and his administration on fight against corruption remains stronger as it has been in the past.
However, the war against graft can only be won if Kenyans unite and put aside their political, religious and tribal interests. We in Jubilee must lead from front in supporting the government to weed out corrupt individuals out to tarnish the good name of the government and to sabotage Jubilee’s development agenda.
I wish to reiterate that whistle-blowers on various scams should be accommodated and their views, claims and allegations on specific graft handled with the care that they deserve. The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations among other authorities should act on dossiers by opposition leaders, members of the civil society and the general public.
On the Euro Bond saga, I wish to challenge my fellow Jubilee legislators not to rush in condemning and demonizing Cord leader Raila Odinga but to allow due process of law to take its due course. We are aware, Raila as the leader of official opposition has the constitutional mandate to oversight and to keep on toes the national government provided their mutual respect to the executive.
We all remember the National Youth Service scam where initially Raila was called names, abused, intimidated and even threatened with legal action but all his claims came to pass. Based on his dossier, CS Ann Waiguru resigned, PS Peter Mangiti, NYS Director General Nelson Githinji and their team was arraigned in court over misappropriation of millions of taxpayers’ money.
I wish to further urge my colleagues in government to hold their horses, allow the investigating authorities to peruse Raila’s dossier on Euro Bond and not to play politics with such sensitive matters. Let us not victimize innocent whistle-blowers irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliation. I challenge the Treasury to publish the expenditure from the proceeds of the Euro Bond.
It is a great miscarriage of perception, therefore, for section of Jubilee leaders to attempt to deceive Kenyans with imaginary holiness in this anti-corruption war by the President through unnecessary attacks on opposition leaders and members of the civil society. It is in bad test for the members of Jubilee to be summoned in Serena and yet we don’t know whether the dossier with opposition is authentic.
Last but not least, I fully support President Uhuru Kenyatta’s decision for not sparing any government official mentioned in graft and to go for the assets of those involved in corruption regardless of their status in the society. We all know that corruption undermines democratic institutions, slows economic development and contributes to governmental instability.
Let us all support President Uhuru Kenyatta in fighting this monster called corruption.
By Sen. Mike Mbuvi Sonko
Deputy Majority Whip-Senate”
