4 July 2008
Nairobi — Professional associations have asked Finance minister Amos Kimunya to step aside to allow for investigations into the controversial sale of the Grand Regency Hotel.
The Association of Professional Societies in East Africa (Apsea) chairman Daniel Ichang'i said Mr Kimunya, Central Bank governor Njuguna Ndung'u and other officials linked to the sale should either step aside immediately or be removed by the President.
Dr Ichang'i told reporters at Nairobi's Professional Centre: "The Government should also move with speed on behalf of Kenyans to preserve the hotel and institute measures to restitute it to the public where it belongs."
Those at the press briefing included the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya - of which Mr Kimunya is a past chairman and member - the Law Society of Kenya and the National Nurses Association of Kenya.
Icpak chairman Steve Lugalia said his association was still waiting for a report by the taskforce appointed by the Government to investigate the saga before taking action against Mr Kimunya.
On Wednesday, Parliament passed a vote of no-confidence against Mr Kimunya over his role in the controversial sale of the prestigious hotel.
At the same time, a sub-committee set to probe the sale of the hotel also recommended that the minister step aside so that the sale can be investigated.
Elsewhere, lawyers from the North Rift and trade unionists have joined calls for the sacking of Mr Kimunya and Prof Ndung'u over the controversial sale.
Led by a former Law Society of Kenya North Rift official Simion Lilan, the lawyers termed the sale "grand corruption" because it contradicted the Privatisation Act, which Mr Kimunya had delayed to bring into force.
"The speedy disposal of the hotel by the Central bank ... contradicted open and competitive tender policy. The two officials should either resign or be sacked as further investigations are carried out into the matter," said Mr Lilan.
No confidence
The Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union's national treasurer, Mr Joshua Oyuga, said the controversial sale had nothing to do with politics and demanded the sacking of all those involved.
Also supporting calls for Mr Kimunya's resignation are Moi University students. The students organisation chairman, Mr Charles Siele, said that Parliament's passing of a vote of no confidence against the minister, showed that Kenyans had no trust in him.
Reported by Mike Mwaniki, Julienne Lauler, Barnabas Bii and Dennis Odunga
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