Graft: US wants Kenya's AG and CJ out

US ambassador Michael Ranneberger on Monday called on the Kenya government to step up the fight against corruption, and replace Chief Justice Evan Gicheru and Attorney General Amos Wako.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta, and embattled Water Minister Charity Ngilu listened as Mr Ranneberger addressed Kenyan officials and diplomats at the third development partnership forum held at Nairobi's Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).

The envoy said Kenya must stamp out corruption and a "culture of impunity" it if is to convince international investors that Kenya is "politically stable and that there is good governance", and attract the capital needed to keep the country growing.

Mr Ranneberger said two major issues threaten the future stability of development: "The culture of impunity and negative ethnicity."

"We have seen in recent weeks a great deal of focus on corruption. Several officials have 'stepped aside'. But we have seen before that ministers have temporarily stepped aside for alleged wrongdoing only to return in new incarnations. To demonstrate seriousness, actual prosecutions are essential and then imprisonment of those found guilty," he said.

He called for corrupt ministers to be jailed.

Highest Repute

According to the new Constitution, the CJ must be replaced by February and the AG by August of 2011. Mr Ranneberger said speedy action must be taken to find suitable replacements who can marshall a purge against corruption in government.
"We therefore urge the appointment of a new Attorney General and a new Chief Justice of the highest repute, and we urge that the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission be strengthened with additional resources," he said.

He said President Obama is watching Kenya's reform agenda "with a sense of urgency", adding that the US is Kenya's largest development partner contributing over US$1 billion (Sh80 billion) annually.

The country is also "one of a just a few" identified to benefit from major new US programmes, the Global Health Initiative and the Feed the Future initiative.