KENYA: Religious Leaders Call for Accountability Over 190 Billion Kenya shillings Covid-19 Pandemic Funds
Chairman-of-Dialogue-Reference-Group-Most-Rev.-Martin-Kivuva-the-Archbishop-of-Mombasa-delivering-a-press-statement-at-Ufungamano-House-Nairobi-on-26th-August-2020.
Rose Achiego
Dialogue Reference Group Chaired by Archbishop of Mombasa Most Rev. Martin Kivuva in a statement issued at Ufungamano House, Nairobi on 26th, August 2020 has decried lack of transparency and accountability in the expenditure of 190 billion Kenya Shillings ($ 1.9 billion) Covid-19 pandemic funds.
“The information in public arena indicates that the country has received more than 190 billion Kenya Shillings to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there has been great lack of transparency and accountability in the expenditure of these funds,” he said
Archbishop Kivuva said that this has led to the suspicion that most of the money has been misappropriated, adding that it is incredible that a Kenyan can sit and plot how to steal money meant to save the lives of Kenyans.
“We are appalled at the downward spiral of descent into the madness of uncontrolled corruption being witnessed in our nation. This trend is immoral and is contrary to the teachings of God, and we fully condemn it,” he said.
Archbishop Kivuva said that reports of corruption touching on the Covid-19 funds are a condemnation on the executive and parliament who have a sworn duty to protect the lives and resources of Kenyans.
“We remind you that every time you abet corruption by failing to exercise your oversight mandate, you are breaking your oath of office,” he said.
He has therefore called upon President Uhuru Kenyatta to cause the relevant ministries and departments to provide to the public details of all funds received through taxation, donations, grants, and loans earmarked to Covid-19 pandemic response and to provide to the public detailed expenditure information.
Archbishop Kivuva also called for publishing of the names of companies and beneficiaries of Covid-19 procurement processes, social protection programmes and distribution of testing kits and Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) acquired by the government through purchase or donation and to immediately institute prosecution of all persons who are implicated in the misappropriation of Covid-19 pandemic response funds.
He called on Members of Parliament to end their perpetual partisan and ethno-centric bickering and execute their constitutional mandate of oversighting national revenue and its expenditure.
“For once, rise up and protect the lives and interests of Kenyans, as is required of you by Article 94 (4) of the Constitution of Kenya 2010.” He said.
Religious leaders met to celebrate and commemorate ten years from the day the Constitution of Kenya 2010 was promulgated, and to draw up a scorecard on its implementation.
