He said the allegations of corruption touching on crucial commodities
like maize and petrol have put the Government in bad light and the only
way to redeem its image is to have those adversely mentioned resign.
Balala was speaking at a Madrassa award ceremony at Majengo Ropa in his Mvita constituency of Coast Province
The minister blamed the increasing cases of corruption in the country
on laxity by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (Kacc) Director Aaron
Ringera and Justice Minister Martha Karua in investigating and
prosecuting those involved in major corruption scams.
Mr Balala said Kenyans were disappointed and wanted action taken
immediately to restore their confidence in the coalition government.
This is the time for President Kibaki to take action and to clean the
government that is being tainted by a few people who wanted to enrich
themselves. When we were removing the KANU government we thought
corruption would be a thing of the past but the situation has worsened,
with major corruption cases being exposed.
People should not think that if they are removed from their positions,
the coalition government will collapse. We have to fight corruption
from all corners and no one should think he or she is special, Mr
Balala said.
The minister, in apparent reaction to the ongoing debate on censure
motion to be taken to Parliament to have ministers implicated in
scandals named and shamed, said Kenyans have seen it all and will not
be fooled.
Lamu port
Balala also asked the government to go slow on the proposed Lamu port
until critical issues of land ownership have been addressed.
He said that since talks about the second port to be built in Lamu
started, some senior Government officials and politicians have been
speculating on the land in the hope that once the project is complete,
they will make a killing through the high cost of land in the area.
Mr Balala criticised the Mombasa Municipal Council for failing to block
the grabbing of prime areas meant for the public such as the Uhuru
Gardens.
It is very surprising that the Council is now planning to pay some
people money for land which was allocated in mysterious circumstances.
I will not allow that to happen and I am prepared to be isolated by my
colleagues to protect the interests of the people, he said.