Siaya Governor James Orengo has called for mandatory lifestyle audits of State officers who make multi-million-shilling public donations, arguing that the growing trend undermines the ideals of the Saba Saba movement and raises serious questions about accountability and the source of the funds.
In a statement issued to mark the 36th anniversary of Saba Saba, Orengo said the annual commemoration should serve as a reminder of Kenya’s struggle for democracy, constitutionalism and accountable governance rather than merely a celebration of a historic event.
He described Saba Saba as a defining moment in the country’s history, when Kenyans took to the streets on July 7, 1990, to demand an end to one-party rule, the restoration of multi-party democracy and respect for human rights and the rule of law.
According to Orengo, the ideals championed by the Saba Saba movement are under threat due to what he termed an increasing culture of extravagant public donations by senior government officials.
“Every weekend, Kenyans are treated to a grotesque procession of public officials publicly competing to announce donations worth tens of millions of shillings. Over the past weekend alone, we witnessed State officers dishing out individual donations of 20 million, 10 million, and 2 million shillings,” Orengo said.
The governor questioned the source of the funds, arguing that public office is a public trust and that every shilling controlled or spent by a State officer should be subject to constitutional scrutiny.
He further said the display of wealth by public officials was disconnected from the economic realities facing many Kenyans grappling with the high cost of living, challenges in the healthcare sector, underfunded schools and financial constraints affecting county governments.
Orengo maintained that the original spirit of the harambee tradition was founded on community solidarity and mutual support, not what he described as a platform for displaying unexplained wealth.
To address the issue, he called for immediate lifestyle audits by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) where State officers repeatedly make donations that appear disproportionate to their known lawful income.
“We must demand immediate action:Mandatory Lifestyle Audits: Where State officers repeatedly make donations that appear completely disproportionate to their known lawful income, institutions like the EACC must initiate immediate lifestyle audits,” Orengo stated.
He also urged full public disclosure of the sources of the donations, saying transparency is a constitutional right, and called on leaders to uphold the principles of Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity.
