Kalonzo pledges to wipe out corruption

Wiper Democratic Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka yesterday vowed to wipe out corruption and make secondary education free and compulsory, should he ascend to the presidency next year.

Addressing his party’s National Delegates Conference in Nairobi, the presidential hopeful said he would seek to restore Kenyans’ faith in government and other institutions which, he said, had been eroded by runaway graft.

“In a Kalonzo presidency, there will be no room for corruption and thieves will have nowhere to hide. I will put to jail all corrupt individuals starting with those in government. Rampant graft will be a thing of the past,” he told the 6,000 cheering delegates.

Kalonzo, who was joined by fellow party leaders Raila Odinga (ODM), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Gideon Moi (Kanu), Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) and Cyrus Jirongo (United Party), was unveiled by the Wiper Party as its presidential flag bearer in next year’s elections.

During the conference which was also addressed by other leaders from various parts of the country, the principals did not hint at forming a pre-election coalition.

Kalonzo said fighting corruption, reducing taxation and public debt, introducing a 24-hour economy and providing free education would be high on his list of priorities should he become president.

“My administration would give Kenyans an opportunity to prosper and realise their dreams since it pains me to see Kenyans overburdened by debt and struggling to survive amid colossal theft and wastage of public resources,” he said.

Referring to his tenure in public service spanning about 45 years from when he was first elected to Parliament in 1985, Kalonzo said he was tried and tested and qualified to lead the country.

Uhuru’s projects

“I have always dedicated my public service life to seeing a better Kenya. If elected, I will work towards making the country an economic hub for the region and a beacon of hope for Africa,” he added.

“We are at a momentous time which presents a unique opportunity to reverse the trend and make our country prosperous. When I become President I will work towards making the country realise its full potential,” he said.

On taxation, the former Vice President rooted for a re-negotiation of all public debts to reduce the repayment burden. 

“Our tax regime is highly duplicated and I will reduce tax levels across the board. We cannot continue taxing an already over-taxed nation,” he said.

He also vowed to continue with, and expand, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s ongoing infrastructural development projects such as the Nairobi Expressway and others.

“Amenities such as transport, energy, manufacturing will be key in building a 24-hour economy that will empower Kenyans, improve their purchasing power and ensure they have disposable income,” Kalonzo said.

He took a swipe at Deputy President William Ruto for allegedly promising Kenyans “unsustainable economic models such as the bottom-up approach and wheelbarrow economics.”

He also pledged to pump more resources to agriculture and fight environmental pollution, particularly reclaiming the heavily polluted Nairobi River and River Athi.

To achieve his goals, Kalonzo said, he would introduce prudent public management programmes aimed at reducing wastage and combating corruption through which he said the country loses Sh720 billion every year.

He would also revive mining in coal, copper and gold among others which he said remain unexploited.

Raila congratulated Kalonzo for being crowned the Wiper Party presidential candidate, hailing the move as an additional feather in the country’s democratic stride.

“Some people were making noise when they heard I had been invited to attend Kalonzo’s event. This is proof that we can work together for the good of our country,” Raila said.

Recalling that he has been with Kalonzo in many struggles, the ODM leader said he would continue to team up with other like-minded leaders through his Azimio La Umoja initiative to actualise the dream of Kenya’s founding fathers and freedom heroes.