President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday stoked a major political bickering pitting the TangaTanga brigade and his Anti-corruption side.
In what appeared to be a purely Raila vs Ruto affair, Kenyatta waded in to join the discussion saying the war on corruption cannot be won through village funeral outbursts.
Uhuru, who spoke while opening the Sixth Annual Devolution Conference at Kirinyaga University, accused individuals he did not name of using funerals and weddings to make reckless remarks with a view of slowing down the war on corruption.
“When you take the podium at a funeral and make false pronouncements like those made against me recently, how does it help you? I wonder if the dead person will rise up and help you,” said Uhuru.
“I want to say here, I have never stolen. But if you have evidence against me, walk in to Karura Forest, the offices of those tasked to investigate crime, including corruption, are there.
Go there and make an official report,” he said in reference to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, which is headquartered on Kiambu Road.
Sudi’s comments
On Sunday, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, an ally of Deputy President William Ruto, said Uhuru and Opposition leader Raila Odinga were pretending to be “holy” in the fight against corruption.
Mr Sudi claimed the two had a hand in the controversial takeover of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by the Kenya Airways.The MP, who spoke on Sunday at Kipkenyo in Eldoret, had accused Uhuru of using the handshake and the war on graft to extend his tenure in 2022.
Extend his tenure
He claimed the March 9, 2018 handshake between the President and the ODM leader was specifically intended to fix 2022 politics.
“I want to tell Raila we accepted the handshake, but now we know what it meant. Uhuru should tell us what he is scheming with Raila. If he doesn’t want to go home in 2022, let him tell us,” Sudi told a meeting also attended by Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet and Governor Jackson Mandago.
In Kirinyaga, Uhuru called on Kenyans to allow investigative agencies to probe corruption and stop engaging in character assassination.
The President claimed there was an attempt to stifle the war against corruption by making allegations against innocent people.
Uhuru, who was accompanied by Dr Ruto, said the war against the vice was unstoppable, insisting that no one would be spared.”We will not be blackmailed.
I have confidence in the ability of our investigative agencies to complete this task and punish corruption,” said Uhuru. He said the fight against graft did not target some communities or individuals.
Corruption is the biggest threat to national assets and shared prosperity of Kenyans, said the President.
“The hour has come for us to raise the bar in delivering services to our people. We must also endeavour to be accountable to Kenyans,” said Uhuru.
Rampant corruption
He added: “It is unfortunate that while we are working hard to grow revenues and develop the country, others are busy dipping their hands in the national basket. However, we are determined to slay the dragon of impunity and Kenyans should expect more from us.”
He said the Government would also seek to recover stolen assets while taking over property bought with proceeds of corruption. Uhuru called on the Judiciary to help the course by speeding corruption cases.
“I urge all Kenyans not to put obstacles and support the war against graft.”
Ruto mum on graft
Ruto, who invited the President to address the governors and other delegates, did not talk about the war on corruption.
The DP will close conference on Friday. Uhuru and other speakers who addressed the conference yesterday, including Council of Governors chairman Wycliffe Oparanya, said lords of corruption should not be shown mercy.