Matungulu Member of Parliament Stephen Mule says corruption has consumed everyone in Kenya including the state.
He said if it were not for corruption some of the industries like Rivatex, Mumias and cotton industry could not have collapsed.
Mule said industrialisation should be embraced being one of President Kenyatta’s ‘Big Four’ agenda for development if the country was to move forward.
Speaking in Komarock Sunday, Mule said as legislators from the lower eastern region, they support the president’s agenda which they passed two days ago during the Koma 2 declaration.
“I urge the executive to go back to the drawing board so that we can tell Kenyans where we missed the boat because Kenya was one of the manufacturing countries during the 1960’s and we cannot be importing everything,” Mule said.
He said the health of Kenyans was at risk following consumption of substandard goods over corruption that has denied Kenyans development of industries for local manufacturing.
Mule said corruption had led to the collapse of industries forcing the country to import substandard second hand clothes, rice, fish, toothpicks, clothes and shoes.
He added that the country is in pathetic state despite numerous efforts being made to restore it to glorious past when industries like cotton, sugarcane, coffee, pyrethrum, macadamia thrived giving farmers a livelihood.
“We need to deal with the corruption menace. In 2022 we cannot entrust this country to corrupt individuals,” said the MP.
He reiterated that it is upon Kenyans to scrutinize leaders and send home those involved in any issues of corruption and crime in 2022 and culprits should be barred from contesting in any elective or leadership role.
Mule said industries like the Kenya Meat Commission in Athi River needed rejuvenation to restore its former glory including additional infrastructure for tanning livestock hides to manufacture shoes and other leather products.
This will create jobs for many unemployed young Kenyans but corruption eats into the budgets of development projects in the region and the country at large.
Mule’s reactions came following the Machakos Catholic diocese Bishop Norman King’oo’s claim that the country imports substandard goods for lack of industries.
According to Mule, the cleric was right to put leaders on notice due to the risk factors that affect Kenyan’s health and welfare.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Makueni deputy governor Adelina Mwau and Machakos women representative Joyce Kamene who attended the Catholic pilgrimage at Komarock in Machakos yesterday.
By Joseph Kamolo
