Kenya blocks fundraising MPs

By Muchiri Kioi
BBC, Nairobi

A ruling preventing Kenyan MPs and civil servants from organising or presiding over lavish fundraising events known as "harambees" has not been universally welcomed.

President Kibaki was elected on an anti-corruption mandate

Harambees were introduced by Kenya's first president to encourage Kenyans to pool resources together for development.

But government officials have long abused them to acquire funds for themselves and politicians have used them to fund election campaigns.

President Mwai Kibaki, whose National Rainbow Coalition government came to power last December, has vowed to tackle corruption in the country.

Since then there has been a heated debate in the country over the harambee issue and on Tuesday the speaker of the national assembly, Francise Ole Kaparo, decreed it was illegal for MPs to preside over harambees.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Assistant Minister Robinson Githae says the government will now prosecute anyone found organising harambees.

'Unfair'

But this directive has not gone down well with MPs.

Henry Kosgey from the opposition Kanu party feels that MPs will be seen not to be working if they don't contribute to development activities in their constituencies through harambees.

Ruling party MP Maina Kamanda - a close ally of Mr Kibaki - also disagrees with the speaker's ruling saying that it discriminated against MPs at election time.

"Aspiring candidates who are not sitting MPs will always have an upper hand as they will be campaigning during harambees," he said.

"They will beat us come elections."

Under former President Daniel arap Moi the provincial administration was criticised for abusing the spirit of harambees.

Harambee, a Kiswahili word meaning to pool together, has been used to source money for community development projects.

They are also used to fund projects of a personal nature such as weddings and funerals.

Last weekend, President Kibaki was forced to cancel a fundraising event in aid of his Othaya constituency following a public outcry and opposition from members of parliament.