A section of leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto have accused President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga of targeting the Kalenjin community in the name of fighting graft in the country.
According to Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, President Kenyatta is using ‘errand boy’ DCI George Kinoti and DPP Noordin Haji to curtail development projects in the rift valley.
“You are not going to direct us to your errand boy, we are not aware what you discussed when you appointed him as the Director of Criminal Investigations.
“…We will not allow you to use one individual in the name of Kinoti, and another one in the name of DPP to weaponise the fight against corruption to deny development programs in our region,” Sang said in Uasin Gishu County.
This is following President Kenyatta’s remarks last week that those who have anything against him to report to the DCI instead of politicking.
“Niliona mwingine amesema nimeiba mali ya nani. Mimi namwambia, tembea hapo Karua Forest ofisi ziko hapo. Kwenda useme kile Uhuru ameiba, shida iko wapi jamani? (I saw someone say I had stolen. I want to tell them to visit DCI offices at Karura. Go and tell them what Uhuru has stolen. Where is the problem?)” President Kenyatta asked.
The president reiterated that the war against graft in the country was not aimed at individuals or communities.
However, Sang said the President should not bastardize every project in rift valley and instead be faithful to the constitution of Kenya, which he vowed to protect when he was sworn in.
“If you want another position in 2022 you talk to us. You don’t have to kill all of us in the name of fighting corruption,” Sang said.
He questioned Raila’s new role in government after the handshake, saying the president had abandoned the community that put him in power.
According to the governor, Raila committed treason after he swore himself as president and needed to renounce the act before engaging in any government activities.
On his part, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi said the Kalenjin community had supported Uhuru more than any other tribe including in 2002 when Kikuyus did not vote for him.
Sudi said Uhuru and Odinga cannot stand the test of integrity because they too had engaged in corruption.
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The legislator also accused DCI Kinoti of being dishonest on the war against corruption.
“Unfortunately Kinoti is a witch doctor like the others and he is not doing genuine work”, Sudi said.
The reaction comes amid a heated debate on Sh21 billion stalled Arror and Kimwarer Dams saga in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The Sh21 billion dam probe has put DP Ruto on the spot over his interest on the fight against corruption after his remarks that Sh21 billion was a flat lie. nstead said the amount in question was Sh7 billion.
The remarks put him on the receiving end with leaders led by opposition leader Raila Odinga slamming him.
“Don’t come and tell us that it was not Sh20 billion, it is only Sh7 billion… Who are you tell us… How did you know?” Raila said.
Last week, Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkumen, on whose county the projects are located, accused Kinoti of playing politics with the fight on corruption.
“Politics should be left to politicians, ” he said during a senate sitting last week.
“Others matters of the State, such as fighting corruption and national development, should be done objectively. I urge the DCI, before he embarks on any investigations of this nature, to engage experts with the necessary knowledge on these type of contracts and how such projects are implemented,” he added.