COVID-19 scandal: Mudavadi wants President Kenyatta to form Judicial commission of inquiry

COVID-19 scandal: Mudavadi wants President Kenyatta to form Judicial commission of inquiry

ANC Party leader Musalia Mudavadi has called on President Uhuru Kenyatta to form a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the alleged theft and misappropriation of COVID-19 funds at the Ministry of Health.

Addressing the media on Sunday, Mudavadi said formation of a Judicial commission of inquiry was the most appropriate mechanism to unearth the rot at Afya House and would “soften the hearts” of donors who have threatened to withdraw critical funding following the recent corruption reports at the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).

“The situation, Mr. President is dire. In the midst of this terror some have found in our tribulations a source of profiteering through theft, fraudulent procurement schemes and grossly inflated prices. They need to be stopped…. The public is restless and now requires answers. Mr President a judicial commission of inquiry will unearth the real underlying problems of this malaise,” said the ANC leader.

He pointed out that State’s investigative agencies including the DCI and EACC are overstretched with other investigations and are also exposed to external influence by the cartels hence the need for a judicial inquest to probe the graft allegations at the Health Ministry.

“The only appropriate mechanism via which to get to the bottom of what is ailing the health sector is for the president to appoint a judicial commission of inquiry. I am by no way infatuated with proposing judicial commissions of inquiry whenever things get skewed,” said Mudavadi.

“But here things have indeed gone awry and only such inquiry will soften the hearts of our development partners who threaten to abandon us at our hour of most need because of our insatiable dishonesty.”

He added: “If donors pull out, not only do we lose COVID-19 support but we will also forego over Ksh.400 billion for HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB among other life saving interventions beneficial to the people.”

The ANC leader maintained that normal investigations cannot be relied upon to get to the bottom of what is ailing the Health sector in the country.

“Commissioners of a judicial commission of inquiry enjoy immunity unlike DCI, police or EACC who are vulnerable to influence, threats and blackmail by the infamous powerful cartels,” he said.

Mudavadi further noted that decisions by a commission of inquiry are binding in law, and just as those of courts they are enforceable on their own without need for further machinations.

“Since only the president has power and the commission of inquiry act to form such a commission, this will help the president to stamp executive authority on the fight against corruption with finality and then deflate the lingering insinuations that he is a reluctant fighter of corruption,” he stated.

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Musalia Mudavadi Commission of Inquiry

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