Raila claims Jubilee government won't tackle corruption

The Jubilee government will not tackle corruption because its top leaders are beneficiaries, opposition leader Raila Odinga has claimed.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) co-principal said Kenyans were not only concerned about the unprecedented high levels of corruption, but also the “disturbing inaction by the authorities”.

Speaking at rallies in Merti and Isiolo towns on Thursday, when he led a retinue of opposition politicians, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader criticised President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto for allegedly failing to act on corruption.

Mr Odinga, whose speech largely focused on corruption and governance issues, also said that despite highly publicised declarations by the President that corrupt officers would be punished, no action had been taken on those implicated in graft.

 “The government is promoting ethnicity and tribalism and overseeing extrajudicial killings, and this is a complete system failure,” said Mr Odinga. “They are also liars and enemies of devolution.

“We demand that the President takes full responsibility for the runaway corruption in the government and leave office.”

President Kenyatta has on several occasions warned that inept and corrupt public servants will be sacked.

But Mr Odinga said: “There is no commitment to fight corruption by the top Jubilee leadership.

“Former Devolution minister Anne Waiguru confessed in Parliament today (Thursday) that the National Youth Fund cash was stolen. Do not forget about Eurobond. When I blew the whistle on that matter, I was labelled a liar.

“They should all go home.”

FULL IMPLEMENTATION

Mr Odinga also demanded the full implementation of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission report, which was handed over to the President in 2013. He said if elected he would priortise its implementation.

He accused the government of neglecting Isiolo County residents, many of whom are victims of the past Shifta War, citing failure to address land issues affecting them.

The TJRC Report says that 2,000 people were killed during the Shifta War, waged between 1964 and 1967. However, the report noted that unofficial estimates placed the death toll at 7,000. The conflict arose out of a long history of political unrest in northern Kenya, where ethic groups resisted centralised colonial rule. The report detailed atrocities in rape, torture and sexual violence, looting of property as well as burning of houses. Residents, who fled to Somalia during the war, only returned in 2000.

The former Prime Minister said Isiolo residents trace their underdevelopment to the war. He also delved into the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor, accusing private developers of eyeing land in Isiolo, where the project will pass.

He called for calm over the Meru-Isiolo border dispute, urging communities to live in peace.