Azimio Orders Inquest Into Procurement of Subsidized Fertilizer

Azimio la Umoja's leadership have directed their Members of Parliament to open an inquiry into the purchase of subsidized fertiliser by President William Ruto.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, September 30, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka stated that the procurement process has been shrouded by a lot of secrecy which needed to be unravelled.

Kalonzo who was flanked by Azimio politicians stated that the first campaign promise was to the lowering of the cost of living. However, the price of basic commodities has continued to soar with the price of unga, fuel and electricity hitting record highs.

President William Ruto (Left) received by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, Chief Justice Martha Koome, and Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu during a joint parliament sitting on September 29, 2022.

State House

"These are matters we feel should take pre-eminence in these early days. Just like there was the rush to subsidize fertilizer on September 19, the same urgency should have first and foremost been applied to the rapidly rising cost of living. We also question how this fertilizer was procured; when it was procured; and, where it was sourced from.

"We ask: does it meet the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) standards? This administration must therefore make public the procurement process of this fertilizer subsidy. We have directed our MPs to commence an enquiry into the same," he disclosed. 

He added that the government as well ought to honour its campaign promise of lowering fuel prices and in addition, revise the punitive tax levies on the cost of fuel.

Cabinet Vetting 

Azimio further ordered its MPs against approving nominees who had pending legal cases. Kalonzo asked Ruto to withdraw the names of the nominees with questionable characters, terming it an embarrassment to the nation. 

The President, he added, also reneged on his promise of appointing 50 per cent of women to the Cabinet. 

"Nomination was not procedurally done, on the basis of competencies and personal integrity and we shall direct our MPs to withhold approval of those who do not meet the Chapter Six threshold of our Constitution," he added. 

Savings Scheme 

Kalonzo claimed that the Ruto administration's initiative of utilising savings for development instead of borrowing is another camouflaged promissory note.

"To realise the Kshs300 billion from this year's budget is extremely ambitious. We wish to propose austerity measures such as the restructuring of the national debt and recovering public funds looted from 2013 to date," he read. 

Judiciary and the Rule of Law 

He reiterated Raila Odinga's call to reform the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). 

"On the back of this heavily contested election, the deficiencies that exist within the judicial and electoral systems need to be immediately addressed. We must reform IEBC to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in the future.

"With regards to the Judiciary, there can never be justice if our judicial system can be adversely influenced to subvert the rule of law and the cause of justice," he stated.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati addressing the press at the IEBC headquarters at Anniversary Towers on Monday, September 5, 2022.

IEBC