NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 23 – Parliamentary watchdog committees have linked Auditor General Nancy Gathungu utterances on corruption to threats by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
The Auditor General had asked the corrupt to “Steal it in Kenya, invest it in Kenya, and ask questions later.”
Senate Public Accounts Committee Chairman Moses Kajwang pointed out that her frustration coincides with the ascent to power of the new regime.
“Since Kenya Kwanza took over State House, many of the institutions mandated to fight corruption have faced harassment and similar disillusionment,” Kajwang stated.
Gathungu said that perhaps a campaign should be started to encourage people stealing money in Kenya to invest the same in the country
He insisted that the sentiments by the Auditor made in jest or not should not be taken lightly given the adverse effects of corruption.
“Like Caesar’s wife, the OAG must keep her hands clean and not join the gravy train of corruption. We cannot elevate corruption into an economic activity; no country ever succeeded by doing so,” Kajwang stated.
Senate Public Investment Committee Chair Geoffrey Osotsi remained adamant that they will not relent in the fight against corruption despite all indication that the state has captured agencies mandate to deal with graft.
“As the Senate oversight committees, we will not drop the gun in the war against graft. The rest can fail but we won’t fail in our mandate as the watchdog committees,” Osotsi stated.
Kajwang said that the rot in President Ruto’s administration is from the Cabinet who he regretted are occupied by individuals with ongoing corruption and criminal cases.
“Every Kenyan must be concerned when the watchdog declares that it is ok for hyenas to steal sheep as long as a piece of steak is shared with the owner,” he stated.
The Homabay Senator cited the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Directorate of of Criminal Investigations are now being controlled by President Ruto as they receive stern warnings with a view to controlling how they investigate.
“If we can manage to tame corruption in Kenya, we will be able to grow other economic sectors, create job opportunities for our young people and change our embarrassing national behavior of begging for donor funds,” he added.
