Raila Vows to Jail those Who Inflated SGR Cost if Elected

National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga has warned that he will have those who inflated the cost of the newly-launched Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) jailed, should he ascend to power in the August polls.

While congratulating President Uhuru Kenyatta for completing the project, the former Prime Minister cautioned him not to use the project as a campaign tool, adding that that it was conceived during the Grand Coalition government.

Odinga said that the grand coalition government tendered the SGR at a cost of Sh227 billion but when the Jubilee government came in, it re-tendered and inflated the cost.

"Jubilee should not use SGR as a campaign agenda because we initiated it. This project is for Kenyans and not Jubilee's. The project was inflated and we shall deal with those responsible when we form government, "said Raila.

The ODM leader further opposed President Kenyatta's directive that those caught vandalizing the railway line should be killed.

''Those who shall be found guilty of having vandalized such key projects will be hanged. Acts of vandalism on key principal projects are economic saboteurs and this is a capital offense whose punishment is death,'' President Kenyatta had warned.

"This is Kenyans project and nobody should destroy it. If anybody is caught, should be arrested and prosecuted according to the law. The order of shoot to kill is long gone, "said Raila.

Raila castigated Jubilee for blocking Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho from attending the launching of the project in Mombasa.

"It's wrong to block any Kenyan from attending the launch of such a project. It is Kenyans who will pay with their taxes. Governor Joho was attending in his capacity because it was being launched in his County," said Raila.

The NASA leader was speaking after receiving a delegation of leaders who have since decamped from Jubilee to the Orange party.