{"id":13280,"date":"2020-08-24T19:13:27","date_gmt":"2020-08-24T19:13:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.com\/kenya\/?p=13280"},"modified":"2020-08-24T19:13:27","modified_gmt":"2020-08-24T19:13:27","slug":"covid-billions-spending-now-cannon-fodder-for-2022-power-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/kenya\/all-news\/covid-billions-spending-now-cannon-fodder-for-2022-power-games","title":{"rendered":"Covid billions spending now cannon fodder for 2022 power games"},"content":{"rendered":"

AfricaPress-Kenya:<\/strong> The Covid-19 billions spending is fast evolving into a political monster that could vaporise the political capital of some titans, sink the political careers of others and, ironically, revive fledgeling alliances.<\/p>\n

It is an all-familiar story in the run-up to an election; a multi-billion shilling\u00a0scandal\u00a0erupts, denials follow in quick succession, politicians take extreme sides, truth is slowly unearthed, and the political fallout begins.<\/p>\n

In the current scheme of things, Raila Odinga\u2019s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has bared it\u00a0all, for the first time urging media not to sensationalise the matter, while Deputy President William Ruto has latched onto it, bullishly describing it a \u201clarceny\u201d.<\/p>\n

On the sidelines, Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi is demanding a commission of inquiry as the church surges back to reclaim the opposition role, citing betrayal. It is the stuff political hot potatoes are made of.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pretentious (former) opposition, now turned Lords of corruption, attempted defence of the Covid-19 grand\u00a0larceny\u00a0is not shocking. It confirms the worst of Kenyan\u2019s fears that their side of the handshake was never interested in the people\u2019s good but opportunity to loot.<\/p>\n

What a shame,\u201d Ruto tweeted yesterday.\u00a0In quick response, ODM, through its Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, took on the DP, as claims and counterclaims on the real beneficiaries of the Covid-19 spending took centre stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe asked for an audit. In which language is that a defence of theft? It is the hope of the actual thieves to disappear in the fog of the manufactured \u2018outrage\u2019. The worst of Kenyans fear is you being in charge for we will lack words to describe the plunder that will ensue,\u201d responded Sifuna.<\/p>\n

As politicians traded words, it emerged that the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) may have been running a unilateral show after a letter from the National Treasury complaining of its dealings with shadowy stakeholders.<\/p>\n

In the letter, Treasury PS Julius Muia says the agency had over-committed itself to a tune of Sh5 billion against its own\u00a0budget, and in the process sidestepping its parent ministry.<\/p>\n

\u201cKemsa has indicated that in consultation with stakeholders, it mobilised Covid-19 emergency supplies worth Sh5.1 billion with a view to mitigating potential supply shocks and far-reaching Covid-19 implications. However, we note that KEMSA has not provided information on whether the commitment was made without confirmation of the availability of funds from the ministry,\u201d Dr Muia wrote.<\/p>\n