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Assistant lands’ minister calls for 'thorough' probe into chopper crash

Written by Protus Simiyu
2012-06-15 19:11:00
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Assistant Lands Minister Wakoli Bifwoli addressing residents of his Bumula Constituency where he called for efficient use of the CDF funds to boost development in the area. [PHOTO | Protus Simiyu| West Fm]

As the Minister for Provincial administration and Internal Security Prof. George Saitoti and his assistant Joshua Orwa Ojode are set to be laid to rest this weekend, the Bumula Mp Bifwoli Wakoli has appealed to the government to carry out thorough investigations and make it public.

Speaking at Lonakwe Health Center in Bumula district, Wakoli said the findings of the inquest must be made public so that Kenyans can understand what caused the police chopper crash that killed the two statesmen, their board guards and the crew last Sunday morning.

 Wakoli who is the also the lands assistant Minister cum Vice chairman of Bunge Sacco said four years down since former minister Kipkalia Kones and  legislator Lonah Laboso perished in another plane crash in Narok, the findings of the inquest have not been made public.  

“It is prudent enough that such findings should be made public so that the public can understand the cause of such deaths to end the culture of speculation in the country,’’ he charged.

Subsequently, the Prime Minister Raila Odinga also insisted that the inquest into the chopper crash that claimed the life of Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti must come up with convincing answers.

He says the Justice Kalpana Rawal commission must amicably resolve the circumstances under which the chopper went down killing last Sunday to restore the confidence of the public on such inquiries.

“So many such deaths have occurred in the country, without convincing answers being provided. We have a duty to win the trust of the people of Kenya in public inquiries, inquests and probes,”The Premier reiterated.

He told a requiem mass for the late Minister at the Holy Family Basilica that the investigating team must answer all the questions Kenyans were asking about the tragic flight that that claimed five other lives including that of Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode.

Dr. Odinga stressed that, “We must grant professor Saitoti and sons and a daughter of our nation who died with him is to get him is to get to the bottom of circumstances of their death”.

President Mwai Kibaki, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende attended the service.

The late Saitoti will be laid to rest tomorrow at his Enkasiti home in Kajiado North Constituency. 

Lands Minister issuing out cheques for various CDF projects in his constituency.

Concerning CDF funding in Bumula constituency, he urged the Project Management Committees PMC’s to involve the locals in the projects to enhance transparence.

Mr. Wakoli disclosed that people who have been involved in mismanagement of CDF funds in the constituency will face the full force of the law without impartiality.

‘’This is public money and we don’t expect any form of excuses from the PMC’S, we give you the money you swindle it with impunity and the blame is on the MP, we are not going to spare anybody because we are allocating the money to benefit the public and not individuals,’’ Wakoli said.

 The MP asserted that he will not allocate any money from the CDF kitty to the provincial administration in Bumula district unless they account for money that was allocated previously.

“We gave money to purchase land and put up an AP camp at Kimwanga, but the area Chief and his assistants decided to divide the money among themselves, I am urging the area DC to account for the Sh. 270,000 and ensure that apart from the culprits being forced to return the money, they should also be arraigned in court,’’ he said.

He said the fight against corruption and impunity cannot be won if the law is applied with favoritism “A thief is a thief even if he is a public officer,’’ he charged.

On education, Wakoli urged school committees, parents and all stakeholders to organize forums on how to improve performance in both KCPE and KCSE saying the current performance is dismal.

He said the idea of dealing with problem of under performance in the region up-bottom will not work insisting that all stakeholders have a noble obligation to come forward and chart the way forward.

On matters of politics he appealed to aspirants of varies elective post to desist from divisive politics instead focus on fostering peace ahead of the elections.

Wakoli also urged the youth above 18 years to acquire   National Identification cards and subsequently register as voters to decide the new leadership of the country in forth coming general elections.


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