President Uhuru Kenyatta is facing an uphill task on whether or not to kick out his cabinet secretaries implicated in corruption cases.
The confirmation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) that they were fast closing in on at least three CSs, either accused of irregular awarding of tenders or travelling abroad to receive kickbacks, have only served to pile further pressure on the President to crack the whip.
Treasury CS Henry Rotich was on Tuesday grilled in connection with construction of multi-billion-shilling dams amid claims of kickbacks. His Tourism counterpart Najib Balala has been questioned with regard to a contract awarded to a US tour firm.
Mr Balala also appeared before MPs on Thursday to shed light on the swirling claims of impropriety.
Matters were compounded on Thursday when the Senate amended the report on the maize importation scandal and recommended two more CSs and several principal secretaries be held culpable for the importation of maize that destabilized the sector and impoverished farmers.
Kenyatta dilemma
President Kenyatta’s frustrations over corruption scandals rocking his Cabinet were evident when he chaired a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. In the session, Mr Kenyatta is said to have expressed strong concerns over widespread claims that some ministers were pocketing bribes.
A high-ranking official familiar with the deliberations said the President has commissioned an audit of all big projects and contractors asked to offer any information about bribe requests by ministers to Mr Kinyua for prompt action.
Smoke them out!
University of Nairobi Law Professor Ben Sihanya thinks that if Mr Kenyatta is serious about eliminating corruption in his Cabinet, then more than half a dozen CSs would either be in jail or at home.
“Forcing a corrupt officer from the Executive wing of government to resign is the easiest thing. It is easier compared to other arms like Judiciary where, for instance, one would require a commission of inquiry before a judge is asked to leave when implicated. Integrity issues do not need proof,” he said.
Prof Winnie Mitullah from the same institution, however, believes Mr Kenyatta has demonstrated commitment to rooting out the vice.
“The President has acknowledged the depth of corruption in government. That is a good beginning point.”
Minority Leader in the National Assembly John Mbadi agrees with her.
“I no longer doubt the President’s commitment to deal with corruption. I’m sure he will take administrative action the moment he finds his CSs are culpable,” he said.