A law requiring seekers and holders of public office to declare their wealth and file regular tax returns should be enacted, former finance minister Simeon Nyachae says.

The Nyaribari Chache MP proposed that the information should be made available to professional and social organisations, including the Law Society of Kenya, umbrella religious organisations and the Institute of Certified Accountants.

Speaking during the annual dinner of the Association of Round Tablers, Mr Nyachae appealed to Kenya's bilateral development partners to assist the country institute a system where all the money due to the government is paid.

This, he said, would strengthen the country's resource base and its ability to develop while reducing dependence on donor funds.

The former minister called for action on the auditor-general's report, Public Accounts and Investment committees recommendations resulting in the prosecution of the guilty and confiscation of whatever has been siphoned from public coffers.

Mr Nyachae said the public sector performed poorly due to the incompetence of unqualified staff. He said many people holding senior positions in the public and parastatal sectors were politically or ethnically appointed.

He also called for a transparent system of appointing judges and judicial officers to ensure they are of impeccable character and that they truly merit the positions.

He said the down-sizing of government should be speeded up.

Saying the private sector contributes over 70 per cent of revenue used by government, Mr Nyachae suggested that a consultative method of management be employed to inspire confidence in its citizenry and the business community. The MP said the country could reduce unemployment from the current 50 per cent to 10 per cent in a decade if a truly conducive economic environment is created for all sectors.

"Within the same decade, we can reduce the proportion of Kenyans living below the poverty line from the current 48 per cent to less than 10 per cent," he added.

He cautioned, however, that this target was not possible to achieve in a country where "only eight per cent of the population owns 80 per cent of the total production process".

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