To the defense of Sam Ongeri and Karega Mutahi

FPE FUNDS 

DECEMBER 31, 2009

By EUGENE OMILO (in Mombasa) and ALPHONCE GARI (in Malindi)

A welfare association in Mombasa has opposed plans to hold demonstrations to pressurize Education minister Samson Ongeri and his PS Karega Mutahi to resign over missing Free Primary Education funds.

The Kandwia welfare association has warned activists pointing their fingers at the two officials to hold their horses until investigations are concluded.

The association’s chairman Mutinda Muluu said it was not proper to hold demonstrations over the issue as it is not the best way to address the problem.

“Demonstrations are not proper tools for solving such problems, they only lead to death and destruction of property as happened in January last year during the post election crisis,” said Muluu.

“Omutata and his team are not magicians to know whether the minister and his PS are the real culprits over the matter even before investigations are done,” said association’s Organizing Secretary Kimanzi Kitheka.
The two who were flanked by other officials were speaking on Wednesday evening during a press conference in a Mombasa hotel.

Their reactions come after civil activists led by Okiya Omutata gave a two week ultimatum to the minister to resign or hold demonstrations.

While releasing this year’s KCPE results on Tuesday, Prof Ongeri had appealed for patience saying investigations are underway by KACC officers to establish those involved in the scam.

However,the Kenya National Union of teachers have added their voice to those calling for the sacking of the Minister and  Prof Karega Mutahi to pave way for investigation over the disappearance the  free primary education funds.

KNUT secretary General Lawrence Majali said  Professor  Ongeri and Prof Mutahi had no reason to be in office as they would  tamper with the investigations.

While speaking in Malindi yesterday, Majali said the scandal in question involved public funds and Kenyans  were eager  to know  the circumstances under which the money  disappeared.

The scandal arises from audit queries involving sh 100 million that was part of funds meant for capacity building initiatives in the education sector feared to have squandered by some ministry officials.

Meanwhile, A cabinet minister has expressed disappointment over the performance  of coast primary school candidates in this year’s KCPE exams.

Speaking in Malindi yesterday, East African community Minister Amason Kingi said the performance had  gone down as compared to last year when the province produced the top two candidates in the country and had 20students among the top 100 nationally.

This year the province only had only seven candidates among the top 100 in the country which the Minister termed as worrying.

ENDS.