E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Karume Now Slams Narc Anti-Graft War

Kiambaa Member of Parliament Njenga Karume - a long-time business and political ally of President Mwai Kibaki - yesterday faulted the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) government's anti-corruption crusade.

In a blistering attack, Karume said it was futile for the Narc government to go after members of the former regime while cabinet ministers close to the president were presently penetrating corruption of monumental proportions.

Karume led eight MPs from across the political divide in warning Kibaki to act on his errant cabinet ministers or risk a revolution. Karume stressed that his close relations with the president would not stop him from criticizing the Narc government whenever it engages in corruption.

"Time has come to say no to all this," Karume said. "We must speak gainst corruption even if it is my brother, friend or tribesman doing it."

Karume was speaking at a fund-raising meeting in Thigio within Limuru constituency. He was accompanied by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Secretary-General Joseph Kamotho and local MP Kuria Kanyingi.

Others were Peter Munya (Tigania East, Safina),Reuben Ndolo (Makadara, LDP), jim Choge(Aldai, Kanu), Patrick Muiruri(Gatundu north, Kanu) and Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito, Ford people).

Kamotho said Kibaki was doing a good job but was being let down by a few corrupt cabinet ministers. Karume's friendship with Kibaki dates back more than four decades though it strained towards the 2002 general election when he ditched Kibaki's Democratic Party of Kenya to back Uhuru Kenyatta's presidential bid.

Normal relations, however, resumed soon after Kibaki became the President, and Karume is believed to be one of the few personalities who enjoy unfettered access to State House. But yesterday Karume said he would spare nobody when talking about corruption.

He cited that the controversial Shs 2.7 billion passport deal and Kenya's exclusion from the Shs 78 billion US development grants as signs that all is not well within the Narc government.

Karume challenged Kibaki to sack and prosecute those involved in the passport deal before the crooks spend their loot. “Hakuna haja kusema unatafuta pole pole. Hawa watu wanajulikana. Mwizi ni mwizi hata kama ni waziri (There is no need of ordering investigations. These people are known. A thief is a thief even if he is a cabinet minister.),” Karume said.At the same time, Karume said the coalition for national unity - an alliance between Kanu and Ford People - is ready to co-operate with LDP to fight corruption within the Government.

Karume's remarks were supported by all the MPs present, with Ndolo promising to unleash a damming dossier about another corruption scandal involving a senior cabinet minister this week.

Ndolo claimed the Minister was behind the importation of over a million handcuffs. With a light touch, Ndolo said corruption had become the new religion. He added: “Some of our ministers and MPs have become the bishops of corruption in this country.”

Munya warned that Narc wold be voted out if it does not effectively fight corruption while Kamotho said Kibaki's government was as bad as the previous regimes.

The legislators were however, divided on the constitutional review process with Kamotho, Ndolo, Kilonzo and Choge demanding that Bomas draft be adopted as it is.

Kanu and LDP support the draft constitution passed and adopted by the National Constitutional Conference mid-March but the National Alliance party Of Kenya (NAK) wing of the ruling coalition want some issues looked at again.

They are particularly uncomfortable with the draft constitution over the charges proposed in the executive, transitional arrangements and devolution. Choge said Kenya will have a new constitution "wapende wasipende (whether they like it or not)."

Munya said the responsibility of enacting a new constitution was on MPs and not the president. He Said: “The president is not the one writing the constitution. Bomas did its job, and now what remains is for MPs to develop consensus befor adopting the draft.”

Muiruri however rubbished the bomas draft and demanded that a new team of experts be appointed to write another draft constitution.