Musalia Mudavadi, Prime Cabinet Secretary nominee has disclosed his net worth as Sh4 billion during the vetting conducted by the Committee on Appointments today at the Parliament buildings.
He was the first to appear at the vetting and revealed that his shares in various companies and his real estate properties add up to the stated amount.
“If I take my investment in share in some companies and also properties that I own I would put my net worth at about Sh4 billion. My current and anticipated income are from rental income, dividends from shareholding, interests and other expenses that come from the farm,” Mudavadi observed.
The economist had his opinion on issues pertaining the ballooning national debt and creation of extra positions to increase wagebill.
“We need to limit the levels of commercial debt that we are inquiring, we will still borrow but prudently so that borrowing doesn’t harm our country’s financial soundness. We need to limit the levels of commercial debt that we are inquiring, we will still borrow but prudently so that borrowing doesn’t harm our country’s financial soundness,” he said.
“I did say there were some good and toxic things about the BBI. It was a good document mixed with some toxic aspects. The reorganising of the government could be done at a lesser cost without going to certain levels. I never misled anybody about this issue” he added.
The committee questioned him on his integrity to hold the public office.
On the Goldberg saga issue, Mudavadi revealed that he was appointed the Minister of Finance when the Goldberg saga was at its full-blown situation and that there was a commission of inquiry under late former President Mwai Kibaki for 2 years where he was exonerated and lauded for dismantling the networks.
He denied land grabbing allegations of the public property in Woodley estate and said that the property belongs to Nairobi City County government to which he pays rent for occupance.
“I have not been linked to any land-grabbing scandal. I stayed in Woodley and to this day we pay rent to Nairobi County. EACC at the time went on a tangent that they had not confirmed and I even filed a suit on defamation. In my view, it was a witch-hunt at that time,” he added.
Mudavadi distinguished his roles as prescribed under the Executive Order No.1 of 2022 where President William Ruto clearly designated the roles of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary including handling the government delivery unit, liaising with the ministry of Interior and National Administration in overseeing the implementation of National Government policies, programmes and projects as well as well as chairing the Principal Secretaries Committee and supervising the technical monitoring and evaluation of Government policies, programs and projects.
“The AG’s office is the legal advisor to the government. There is no intention to usurp the powers of the Attorney General. President Ruto was not struggling to define the functions of these office. There is no conflict between my office and the deputy President’s office in terms of functions, he said.
Mudavadi expressed content and delight with his nominated position.
“I am happy with Kenya Railways as an office, Kenyans who voted for us are there every morning and evening. It is a constant reminder to me that we should not let them down but work hard on their behalf,” he alluded.
Mudavadi said that he believes in an honourable government that honours its promises since a country qualifies to be a nation due to its ability to pay debt.
“We all need to fight budgeted corruption. We want to know why would a product cost Sh100 at the kiosk but when the government is procuring the same product it cost Sh1000,” Mudavadi said.
The last position Mudavadi held in government was that of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for local government between 2008 to 2013 in the Grand Coalition Government during Kibaki’s tenure.
Justin Muturi Attorney General nominee, Aden Duale Cs Defence nominee and Alice Wahome Cs Water and Sanitation nominee are designates scheduled to be vetted today.
Vetting of all the cabinet nominees will lapse on Saturday.