Mazera Ndurya And Tom Matoke
30 June 2008
Nairobi — Seven MPs pushing for the creation of an opposition have called for mass action starting this week to force Finance minister Amos Kimunya to resign over the Grand Regency saga.
The MPs also want the Libyan government to surrender the title deed for the hotel back to Kenya government saying the deal was shrouded in controversy.
Speaking in Mombasa, the MPs said they will give a formal notification to the police today for demonstrations set to start Tuesday.
The MPs are Gitobu Imanyara (Imenti Central), Cyrus Jirongo (Lugari), Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu), Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito), Charles Kilonzo (Yatta), Julius Kones (Konoin) and Mithika Linturi (Igembe South).
In a statement read by Mr Imanyara, the MPs said the protest will start with a procession to Grand Regency to demand cancellation of the sale and reclaim it.
Resign or be sacked
They also want Finance PS Joseph Kinyua and Central Bank Governor Njuguna Ndung'u to resign or be sacked.
"We will be requesting Lands minister James Orengo and other ministers and MPs who are against theft of public assets and resources to join us.
"On Wednesday we will march to the Libyan Embassy on Loita Street to demand the unconditional return of the hotel's title deed to the people of Kenya," the statement said.
The MPs said they will march to Mr Kimunya's office at Treasury Buildings on Thursday to evict him from office.
They termed the secret sale of the hotel as just one of the corruption deals that the Grand Coalition Government has executed to siphon away taxpayers money to enrich corrupt ministers and other officers.
The Igembe South MP also called for fresh investigations into the sale of other government houses like the Corner House and the Bima houses in Nairobi and Mombasa, suspecting that there could have been some shady deals.
The legislators who have been meeting in Mombasa for three days also expressed fears that the Constitution review process will not be achieved unless ministers with vested interests in the 2012 presidential race step aside.
Presidency
"The minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Martha Karua should not be allowed to lead the constitution making process when she has declared her interest in the country's presidency," the said.
Elsewhere, Higher Education minister Sally Kosgei asked Mr Kimunya and Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission head, Aaron Ringera, to resign over the hotel saga.
The anti-graft team was involved in the transfer of the hotel from Mr Pattni.
Said Dr Kosgei: "The Finance minister must quit for selling the hotel at a throwaway price. He acted dishonestly at the expense of the public office he is holding."
She told a graduation ceremony at Baraton University of Eastern Africa in Nandi North District that the sale was done secretly yet the hotel was built using public funds.
The MP for Aldai in Nandi South District condemned the sale saying the transaction should be made public.
The minister was wildly cheered when she remarked: "This illegal sale of public assets must stop! The anti-corruption boss and the minister involved must quit to promote honesty among leaders in the country."
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