No politics in war on graft, says President Kenyatta

President Uhuru Kenyatta has distanced politics from the war on graft saying it is disappointing to see politicians linking the two.

The president, who jetted back in the country on Tuesday night from his successful US visit, spoke to the Voice of America (VOA) ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump.

“There is no politics in the war against corruption and I urge people not to bring in politics in this. We have to fight this vice so that we stop the pilferage of public resources,” President Kenyatta said.

The Head of State, while warning critics to keep politics at bay and vowing to intensify the war on corruption, said the vice has slowed down Kenya’s socioeconomic transformation.

“Corruption destroys our economy. It wastes public resources, resources that could be used to buy drugs for our hospitals, construct roads, supply electricity and other essential services that Kenyans,” he said.

The Commander-in-Chief also pointed out that unless Kenya defeats graft and sheds off the “corruption label,” no foreign investor will want to establish business in the country.

He added that the fight against corruption is not about him but about Kenyans wanting to restore order in the management of public resources.

The president said the priority for genuine leaders should be to use their positions to serve Kenyans and not to use the same to enrich themselves through corruption.

“As a leader, you must bear in mind that you are not there to enrich yourself but you are there because of your commitment to prosper the people you lead,” said President Kenyatta.

The war against corruption and creation of an enabling environment for business and investments have been constant themes throughout President Kenyatta’s brief tour of duty in Washington DC.

According to the State House communications team, the two issues are most likely to top the agenda when President Kenyatta welcomes British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday for private talks as well as in the bilateral discussions at State House, Nairobi.

“Being one of Kenya’s top trading partners, Britain has in the past repeatedly voiced its discomfort with the  state of corruption in Kenya and has historically been at the forefront in supporting Kenya in the war against the vice,” reads a statement from State House to newsrooms.