Uhuru to blame for increased cases of corruption – Democratic Party

The Democratic Party (DP) of Kenya has blamed President Uhuru Kenyatta for the reported increase of corruption in the country.

The party’s Secretary General Jacob Haji said the Head of State should borrow a leaf from Tanzania President John Magufuli of Tanzania on the measures to take in fighting graft.

Haji said the President and his deputy William Ruto must come out clear in the war against graft, noting that they should indicate intolerance to corruption.

“The president promised to fight corruption when he took an oath of office but what is happening now is totally different. Public money lost through corruption has tripled,” he said.

The SG spoke in Nyeri town during the opening of the party offices. The function was also attended by DP leader Joseph Munyao and Chairman Esau Kioni during the opening of the party’s office.

In his speech, Munyao said the president must ensure senior government officials including Cabinet Secretaries and parastatal heads implicated in graft cases are jailed as a way to show he is keen to end graft.

He further urged Chief Justice David Maraga to expedite the hearing of anti-corruption cases to ensure justice is delivered.

The party chairman, Esau Kioni, asked the president to take action against officials in his office who are found to be corrupt and avoid covering up those close to him.

However, Kieni MP Kanini Kega defended the Jubilee government stating that it is the only one that has shown seriousness in the fight against the vice.

He said already president Kenyatta has sacked five CSs and PSs over corruption allegation adding that no other government has done so.

President Kenyatta has in the past come out clear over his role in the fight against corruption, saying he is not to blame for any failures in taming graft.

“I have played my part in the war on graft. I have sacked those named in corruption, on the advice of EACC, and I have offered support to the anti-graft agencies, what more can I do?” He questioned.

In a past State Summit at State House in Nairobi, the president called on investigative agencies; the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the Judiciary to expedite probes into corruption claims and arrest those found culpable.

Despite announcing their support for President Kenyatta in the 2017 elections, DP has said they would field candidates in all other elective positions; Governors, Senators, MPs, Women Representatives, and MCAs in all the 47 counties in the country.