Act before runaway graft ruins Kenya, ODM MPs tell Uhuru

A section of ODM politicians have thrown their weight behind Catholics bishops following their statement on the fight against corruption in Kenya.

The politicians supported the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, telling President Uhuru Kenyatta to crack the whip in war on corruption.

Led by Senate Minority Leader James Orengo, senators Moses Kajwang (Homa Bay) and Ochillo Ayacko (Migori) MPs Millie Odhiambo (Suba North) Anthony Oluoch (Mathare), Otiende Amolo (Rarieda) and Walter Owino (Awendo), the leaders told the President to quickly act to contain growing corruption.

Mr Orengo said that time is running out for President Kenyatta to tackle corruption.

LOW PROFILE

The head of State has kept a low profile since he returned from a trip to China, during which Beijing turned down Kenya’s request for an additional loan to extend the standard gauge railway to Kisumu.

He has missed key State functions such as the international water conference in Nairobi which he was to officially open and the one-million-youth march at the University of Nairobi.

Instead, the president sent Cabinet secretaries Margaret Kobia and Amina Mohamed to represent him at the functions.

DARKNESS

Senator Orengo said if the President does not act now, the country will plunge into darkness considering that Kenyans are headed for several national activities including the upcoming census, a possible referendum and the 2022 General Election.

"President Uhuru Kenyatta has three years left before he leaves office. If he does not act now, the graft will find its root even deeper into government structures because we have a busy schedule ahead of us," Mr Orengo said.

Speaking at Wakula Secondary School in Mfangano Island in Suba North Constituency on Saturday, the senator asked President Kenyatta to put in place tougher measures for fighting corruption.

He asked the head of State to order for the arrest of senior government officials implicated in corruption.

Mr Orengo claimed some politicians are taking advantage of their position in government to engage in corruption.

BIG FISH

"We want to see the big fish being charged. The President should use a more aggressive approach to ensure those stealing taxpayers’ money are arrested and prosecuted. At least it will act as an example to their juniors not to try stealing public funds,” he said.

The senator accused the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and that of the Director of Criminal Investigations, bodies mandated to fight graft, of being “cowardly”.

His statement was echoed by Mr Kajwang, who accused the DPP of selective inti-corruption fight.

NOT ARRESTED

The Homa Bay Senator questioned why leaders who have been mentioned in graft cases have not been arrested apart from former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero.

"The bodies tasked to tackle corruption should deal firmly with the menace. We want to see everyone implicated with graft charged," senator Kajwang said.

Mr Ayacko said that corruption will prevent the county from achieving its development goals and the Big Four agenda.

"The president should [take] the fight on graft to the grassroots level where the problem is [rampant]. Top county government officials should be investigated over the same," Mr Ayacho said.

LIFESTYLE AUDIT

The senator called for a lifestyle audit of leaders to enable investigative agencies “expose their lies”.

On her part, Ms Odhiambo asked politicians in the county to make prudent use of public funds.

She accused some politicians of pocketing money meant for development projects.

"Leaders at different levels receive equal amounts of funds yet some do more to their electorates than others. I have realised that some parts of the country are more developed than others yet leaders at the same level in all corners of the county get an equal share of funds," Ms Odhiambo said.

ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna claimed that some Kenyans have been persecuted for protesting against rampant corruption.

"Instead of spending government resources in fighting Kenyans who are trying to [fight] corruption, the resources should be used to tackle the corrupt at the top levels," the ODM official said.