ODM leader Raila Odinga has called for the strengthening of the economy at a time when the country is grappling with tough economic times.
Raila on Friday said that there is need for the country to only spend money on necessary things, observing that the financial constraints being felt are due to misuse of funds.
He stressed on the need for reduction of extravagance in state departments, stating some government agencies are misusing monies which can be used in other ways.
He cited the judiciary, where he pointed out that judges are driving expensive vehicles which are changed every three years.
"Judiciary has a lot of funding. The judges have a lot of money. The judges are driving Mercedes Benz vehicles which they change after three years. Just the other day CJ wanted a Mercedes Benz 500 just like the Speakers. This shows there is a lot of money. We need to cut down on the extravagance in all the arms of government," he said in an interview with Citizen TV on Friday.
The former Prime Minister said that there is a dire need for serious measures to be taken in turning around the ailing economy, which must begin with reduction of wastage.
He observed that the same is the case in the devolved units, where Members of County Assembly (MCAs) are leading in the wastage.
“MCAS are also a problem. They want car grants, travel for bench marking and sometimes even want to fly and sort out their difference in another town which is costly and eats development money,” he added.
To curb the hardships, president Uhuru Kenyatta has since directed the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to come up with ways of bringing in more revenue.
Similarly, he has urged the Judiciary to speed up cases touching on tax evasion.