Take graft war to counties, Muslim leaders tell State

National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF) chairman Abdullahi Abdi. NAMLEF has called on the State to take graft war to counties. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  •  The EACC is currently investigating several county heads for economic crimes with some leaders’ accounts already frozen.
  •  Among the leaders being investigated is Migori Governor Okoth Obado, who has been accused of fleecing the county of up to Sh2 billion.  

Muslim leaders in the country have called on the government to take the current graft purge to the counties.

Speaking in Nairobi on Sunday, the leaders, drawn from different parts of the country under the auspices of the National Muslim Leadership Forum (NAMLEF) said that although devolution had borne fruits in terms of development, corruption remains its great impediment.

“We appreciate the ongoing war on corrupt individuals jointly led by the office of Director Public Prosecutions and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. However, we want the same zeal at the national government reciprocated in the counties,” said the forum’s chairman, Sheikh Abdullahi Abdi.

 ECONOMIC CRIMES

The calls come amid concerns that level of corruption in the counties has increased with most suspects still remaining at large.

 The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is currently investigating several county heads for economic crimes with some leaders’ accounts already frozen.

 Among the leaders being investigated is Migori Governor Okoth Obado, who has been accused of fleecing the county of up to Sh2 billion.  

Others are former governors Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Waithaka Mwangi (Nyandarua) and Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) among other county heads.

CENSUS

In July, EACC said that it was investigating over 30 former governors on corruption-related offences.

Apart from corruption, the forum also announced a countrywide plan to meet Muslims at the grassroots to sensitise them on issues affecting the country.

Sheikh Abdullahi said that some of the issues to be focused on are the preparations for next year’s national population census and support for Muslim youth and women among others.

“We are going to establish a technical committee to help us prepare background papers to inform Muslim on these matters,” he said.

Muslims are among the groups pushing for a constitutional review. They have maintained that the many positions created by the government are overburdening the taxpayer.