Corruption killing Kenya’s economy, Kalonzo Musyoka says

Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka

Nairobi, Kenya - Corruption is crippling the economy of this country as indicated by the Auditor general’s report released recently, Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka has said.

Kalonzo said the rate at which corruption has thrived in Kenya sends shivers down the spine of patriots who love this country.

Speaking to Law students under the Kenya law Students Society umbrella at the University of Nairobi law campus in parklands, Kalonzo said the failure to implement chapter six of the constitution which stipulates issues of integrity has encouraged the vice to spread in government.

Kalonzo said as the opposition they will not relent in their quest to hold leaders accountable to the public on issues pertaining public resources.

On President Obama visit, Kalonzo said it is quite unfortunate that the US president did not address the Kenyan parliament as is the norm for a visiting head of state of his caliber whenever he visits a foreign country.

He said this might have been contributed by the fact that the Kenyan parliament has not shown integrity in their conduct of business and failure by the leadership of houses to tame the behaviors.

“We have seen members of parliament going about brandishing Pangas, is this what the chapter six of our constitution stipulate of us leaders?” posed Kalonzo

The Wiper Leader said this was a missed opportunity by the legislative arm of Government and Kenyans in general for a visiting president to address the 11th parliament.

He said as a nation, time has come to deeply reflect on the future and make deliberate attempts to correct past mistakes for Kenya to go forward.

On matters south Sudan, Kalonzo regretted the relocation of the peace negotiations from Kenya to Ethiopia saying that although Ethiopia has the will to initiate peace in South Sudan, Kenya has the institutional memory which is key to this negotiation.

The Wiper leader said Kenya is the custodian of the CPA and thus her capacity to handle this peace process would be of great impact to the whole process.

He said sanction against the party’s involved in the negotiations would not work but rather engagement and negotiation which would give a lasting solution to the civil unrest in South Sudan.

“Sanctions never work, sanctions never worked in Cuba; the best way for the people of south Sudan is to engage and I am personally involved in helping then out,” said Kalonzo

Kalonzo said although in opposition, he is constantly in touch with both President Salva Kiir and former Vice president Dr. Riek Machar, encouraging them to put an end to the hostility.

Other panelist present included Prof. Peter Adwok of SPLA/SPLM leader and senator Malakal County in South Sudan who said the current negotiations in Ethiopia might not give rise to a lasting solution because the terms and conditions are being imposed; Madam Florence Jaoko Lecturer at the University and Former Chairperson of KNCHR also addressed the students.