By Mary Daraja

NAIROBI, Feb 9 (NNN-KBC) — Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga maintains that Education Minister Sam Ongeri and his ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Karega Mutahi, must step aside to pave the way for investigations into the financial scandal rocking the ministry.

Raila, who was speaking at the launch of Equity Group Foundation-Mastercard Foundation Scholarship here Monday, which was also attended by Ongeri, dismissed allegations of being vindictive, saying the culture of impunity must end and any officer named in corruption must take responsibility by stepping down.

He said the two top education officials would resume duty once cleared by the investigating agencies.

Ongeri who steered clear of the matter just shook his head in disagreement with the prime minister’s remarks.

However, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta defended his embattled party colleague by calling for the end of the war of words over the missing education funds.

Uhuru said the government had reimbursed donor funds which disappeared, thus safeguarding the Free Primary Education Programme. He added that several officers in the ministry of education had been suspended over the scandal.

The British and United States governments have withheld funding until the scandal in the education ministry is resolved. — NNN-KBC

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