Author: Lucianne Limo
Date: January 24, 2007
Type of article: News
Source: The East African Standard http://www.eastandard.net/archives/index.php?mnu=details&id=1143963997&catid=159

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Members of the local civil society attending the ongoing World Social Forum in Kasarani held a peaceful demonstration against what they termed massive corruption.

The demonstration, organised by the National Conference Executive Council (NCEC), asked President Mwai Kibaki to sack two of his ministers who have been accused of corruption. They further demanded the sacking of Attorney General Amos Wako and the Kenya Anti-graft chief, Mr Aaron Ringera.

The lobby group said the anti-graft body should be disbanded since its existence was a mere public relations gimmick.

"We want to put pressure on President Kibaki to sack all those involved in Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing scandals," said the NCEC programme manager, Mr Ndung’u Wainaina.

He reminded the President of his pre-election promise that there would be zero tolerance to corruption. "Kibaki has failed Kenyans and he has no authority now to seek re-election. The Government will not prosecute even one person involved in corruption," he said.

He accused Wako of using the law to defeat justice. Wainaina said the ministers who were cleared of corruption allegations should face the due process of the law. He said the Government had demonstrated that corruption could be fought from the top adding that Kenyans should demand their rights. The reactions come in the wake of a storm over Anglo Leasing scandal kicked off by a Kenya Gazette notice closing some investigation files into the massive scandal.

Earlier, there was commotion at the World Social Forum in Kasarani when delegates from South African, mainly slum dwellers, stormed the venue demanding either the scrapping of entry fee.

The more than 300 demonstrators converged at the stadium’s main gate at 9am demanding that the gate fee be waived. Police manning the gate tried to block them, but were overwhelmed as the mob forced its way inside.

Carrying placards and chanting "free entry", the demonatrators proceeded to the secretariat, where they dismantled computers and shredded official documents.

One of the orgranisers, Mr Jose Chacon, was held hostage by the angry mob who demanded that he addresses their problems. The demonstrators demanded to know why they were charging Sh50.

The organiser reluctantly informed them that the fee had been waived. The demonstration however remained peaceful. The South African delegates complained that the forum was meant for the poor people but the gate charges were too high for slum dwellers.

The secretariat on Monday had reduced the gate charges from Sh 500 to sh50. The gate fee is supposed to be paid either directly to the bank or online.