E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - VP To Give Comment On Passport Scandal

Vice-President Moody Awori will today issue a statement in Parliament over the Sh2.7 billion passports tender scandal.

Awori made the pledge yesterday soon after receiving three computers from the Managing Director of Keroche Industries, Mrs Tabitha Karanja. He, however, declined to reveal the details. The Vice-President had been summoned by the Parliamentary Committee on Security to be questioned over the tender.

Committee chairman, Mr David Mwenje, however, later said Awori would not be questioned over the scandal.

Mwenje, who is the Embakasi MP, said two permanent secretaries in the ministries of Finance and Home Affairs have been summoned to appear before the committee today.

Mwenje stressed that Awori would only be summoned if the two permanent secretaries incriminated him.

Receiving the computers, Awori said he would take them to Langata Womens Prison in Nairobi. He said already, inmates at the prison were learning how to use computers. The V-P said people are not taken to prison as a punishment but a place to correct them.

He urged Kenyans to welcome inmates when released, saying "inmates should use trades they have learned while in prison for their benefits." He said already, long distance learning has been initiated at Naivasha Maximum Security Prison.

Karanja said her company had donated three computers and a printer. She said the computers would enhance appreciation of Information Technology (IT) development for inmates. She said this would give inmates opportunities which can enable them be better citizens.