CORD hits at President over Anglo Leasing pay order

CORD leaders address a press conference castigating the Jubilee government for authorising payment of Sh 1.4 billion to Anglo Leasing firms in Nairobi, Friday.  [PHOTO: TABITHA OTWORI/ STANDARD]

By JAMES MBAKA

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has sharply criticised President Uhuru Kenyatta and threatened mass action to protest his decision to authorise payment of the controversial Sh1.4 billion owed to Anglo Leasing.

In a strongly worded statement, the coalition said the move, announced on Thursday, was a big blow to the country’s effort to combat corruption.

“The president‘s unilateral decree for payment of Sh1.4 billion to the architects of the Anglo Leasing scandals is the lowest ebb in our struggle to combat corruption and endear prudent management of public resources in this country,” the coalition said at press conference in Nairobi, yesterday.

About 30 MPs and Senators were present at the press conference. CORD also slammed the president’s decision to restructure and empower county commissioners, terming the move a unilateral action that negates the well-established devolved system of government

“Peaceful demonstrations are allowed within the Constitution, no one should feel threatened. What else do you do when no one else listens to us? Peaceful demonstration is an option,” former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said.

Scare monger

The coalition said the president’s actions are unconstitutional and amounts to a violation of the Constitution. CORD noted that the arguments put forward by the President while authorising the controversial payment could not hold water. “The arguments that non-payment of the debt affects the capacity for the country to borrow internationally are neither here nor there. The bottom line is that the Anglo leasing contracts were fraudulent and therefore cannot be honoured,” Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o said.

CORD observed that the international community, which they said espouses best business practices, cannot in any way compel the government to honour contracts that are tainted with fraud and illegalities.

The opposition dismissed the President’s argument that Kenya’s embassies would end up being attached and put up for auction to repay the debt.

“This is a scare monger tactic by the government to coerce the country into honouring evil deals. More significantly our embassies are fortressed by the Geneva conventions and cannot be liable to attachment and auction,” the ODM acting party leader claimed.

The coalition vowed to use all means at their disposal to defend and secure public interest.