Opposition leader Raila Odinga Sunday told the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) that he has no answer for them over the Eurobond billions. Instead, he said the answers were in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s office. Raila said President Kenyatta can only prove him wrong by showing projects funded by the Eurobond funds.

 The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader, who addressed the Press at Serena Hotel, insisted he would not honour EACC summons today to shed light on claims that the Government cannot account for billions of shillings, arguing he was a whistle blower. He reiterated his position a day after President Uhuru, in his Jamhuri Day address, warned that there will be consequences if one makes accusations and fails to prove them.

While all eyes will today be on EACC offices to see if Raila will turn up to prove his claims that Sh140 billion of the sovereign bond cash has been lost, the ODM leader Sunday stood his ground that he will not record a statement. “Whistle blowers are protected by the law. A whistle blower is not a suspect and he should be protected instead of being threatened with arrest. But I don’t fear. They are talking about Kamiti. I have been there. They have not been there,” said Raila at the press conference. “I will not be intimidated by threats of arrest. I have been arrested more than a hundred times... Let this message also go out to the Deputy President William Ruto,” he said before proceeding for a political rally in Kibera.

The anti-corruption body has summoned Raila over his claims that the Jubilee administration cannot account for the funds, which were part of the Sh250 billion bond. And while addressing the rally at Kibra grounds, Raila said the Government should channel its energies towards investigating Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and the National Treasury officials if it is sincere in its war against graft. “Raila does not work in Government.

 The people they should be investigating is CBK and the National Treasury. They are the ones who will tell Kenyans how the proceeds from Eurobond were spent,” said Raila. His co-principal and Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka said declaration of wealth should start with the President and his deputy. Kalonzo demanded that the take a lifestyle audit and lead government officials in declaring their wealth. This, he said, would be one of the ways to gauge the President’s seriousness in the war against corruption.

“For us to succeed in the war against corruption, people must declare their wealth. President Uhuru and his Deputy Ruto should lead from the front,” said Kalonzo. The rally was attended by Senators James Orengo (Siaya), Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay), Elizabeth Ongoro (nominated) and MPs Nicholas Gumbo (Rarieda), Irshad Sumra (Embakasi South), Ken Okoth (Kibra), Joash Olum (Langata), Sylvance Osele (Kabondo/Kasipul) and Tom Kajwang’ (Ruaraka), among others. Domestic borrowing Sunday National Treasury in a statement published in local dailies said:

“There was no Sh140.5 billion lost.” The Treasury explained the figure arose from treasury’s splitting of Sh251.1 billion into Sh140.5 billion for the Eurobond and Sh110.6 billion of actual domestic borrowing mainly from Treasury bills and bonds. “We would like to strongly assure our foreign investors that no money went missing and that the money they lent to Kenya was indeed used for the purposes it was intended for,” said Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich. In his Jamhuri Day address, President Kenyatta raised the stakes by warning that ‘the sword of corruption cuts both ways’ and alluded to the possibility of Raila being held accountable if he fails to substantiate his allegations.

 Should Raila fail to make an appearance at Integrity Centre today, Kenyans will await to see what action EACC will take against him.

The commission has already issued a warning that its investigators have powers similar to those of a police officer in compelling a person of interest to co-operate. “The director and an investigator shall have the powers, privileges and immunities of a police officer in addition to any other powers the director or investigator has under this part,” read an EACC press statement on the Eurobond investigations. Sunday, EACC Director Halakhe Waqo did not respond when The Standard called him ask whether whether the commission is still expecting Raila at their offices in light of his statement Sunday.