Gov’t Will Deal With Corruption Decisively, Ruto

The Deputy President asked leaders in Parliament to crackdown on alleged corrupt practices by members of various Parliamentary committees.

Emphasizing that Members of Parliament must appropriate their responsibilities well to ensure that Parliament does not come into disrepute, the DP said the leadership in Parliament must rein on those involved in sleaze to restore the reputation of the August House.

“Parliament and its leadership must stand up to be counted in their commitment to eliminate corrupt practices among MPs,” said Ruto.

“As people entrusted with oversighting expenditure of public funds, Parliamentarians should not be associated with corrupt practices themselves.” 

Ruto was speaking at Christ the King Major Seminary in Nyeri during celebrations to mark the institution’s Silver Jubilee.

Ruto especially warned Jubilee Members of Parliament against involvement in corrupt practices in Parliament saying the coalition expected very high standards of probity from its MPs and will not condone any of them being associated with graft.

ELIMINATING GRAFT

“Jubilee is not going to be party to any corruption in Parliament, we expect our MPs to hold the highest standards of trust for which they were elected to leadership positions,” he added.

At the same time, Ruto asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC)  to up their game  and probe all  allegations of corruption in Parliament saying  the commission and other institutions of governance owed it to the people of Kenya to ensure that graft is eliminated.

He pointed out that the government was focused on which direction it is taking the country and would not allow distractions as witnessed recently in Parliament.

“We know where we are taking this country and do not want to be involved in empty, useless rhetoric.”

MPs Esther Murugi(Nyeri town), Kanini Kega(Kieni) and Weru Kinyua(Mathira) echoed the DP's sentiments saying Members of Parliament  mentioned in corruption  should carry their own crosses even if they are from  the jubilee coalition.

PAC DISBANDMENT

The statements come amid calls for the dissolution of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over bribery allegations.

Majority Leader Aden Duale and the Minority Whip Jakoyo Midiwo on Wednesday called for the disbandment of PAC in order to restore the tainted image of the house.

The leaders, who appeared before the committee on Powers and Privileges separately, are also in concurrence that the chairmanship of PAC should be the preserve of the opposition leader in the house.

Tendencies by political parties to defend their corrupt members, is one undoing that the leaders cited as an impediment to having a clean parliament.

Of concern to the committee was Ababu Namwamba’s leadership record with focus now flashing back to 2011, when the Legal and Administration of Justice Committee, which he chaired, was disbanded.

The Powers and Privileges committee is expected to table its report on the conduct of PAC next week.

By Maureen Murimi