Ekuru Aukot: If the gov't could punish those looting public money, Kenya would not need USAID

According to Aukot, Kenya has adequate cash flow but public coffers are being dried out by greedy political leaders.

Speaking on Citizen TV's Daybreak show, he argued that the government should use state security resources to nab those linked to looting public funds.

"We are a very rich country. If only the government of the day could punish thieves of public money using the Auditor General's report we do not need USAID, we do not need to beg for money," he noted on Thursday.

This follows a report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu which put Members of Parliament on the spot for failing to account for millions of shillings allocated under the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF).

The report for the year ending 2023 showed that 7 constituencies had not fully accounted for funds, citing significant discrepancies in the manner the funds were handled.

Meanwhile, about 40,000 Kenyans whose jobs are supported by USAID are at risk following the USA’s move to shut down overseas missions and merge the aid arm of US foreign policy with the State Department.

In a statement on Wednesday, USAID announced that all personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally "with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs."

"Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST)," the statement added.

The agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, will arrange and pay for return travel for personnel posted outside USA within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. 

"The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons," the statement added.

USAID funds health and emergency programs in approximately 120 countries, including some of the world's poorest regions in Africa, as part of the United States’ soft power strategy to counter global rivals.