Group to stage demonstrations over runaway corruption

Anti-corruption crusaders protest at Uhuru Park, Nairobi in 2016. [File, Standard]

The Kenya Patriotic Movement (KEPAM) will hold a demonstration this month to protest against high levels of corruption in the country.

The demonstration dubbed “Redeem Kenya Demo” will held on March 30 throughout the country. 

“We can’t sit and watch as our Country continues to be mutilated by known thieves,” said Joseph Lister Nyaringo yesterday in Nairobi when he addressed media.

Nyaringo, who is the coordinator of the initiative and also the President of KEPAM said the lobby will Kenyans at home and abroad in the quest for good governance and social justice.

"We are planning demonstrations in all parts of the country to decry the numerous corruption scandals currently bedeviling the country," Nyaringo said.

He said the demonstration will not spare any leader or chief executive officer who has been adversely mentioned by relevant agencies of being involved in graft.

"Kenyans from all walks of life at home and abroad through the Redeem Kenya Demo are prepared to eject the looters from office. After all, it’s the taxpayers’ money that affords them the luxury in those offices. ," Nyaringo said. 

Maurice Odhiambo, who is organizing the demo in Western Kenya said the country is not a sole proprietorship but a nation of 45 million who claim its shareholding.

"If you are an MP, Senator, Governor, Judicial officer and you’ve been adversely mentioned of abetting corruption  let them be prepared to see the wrath of wananchi through the revolution that’s coming," Odhiambo said. 

He said nobody will be spared the wrath of Kenyans as the patience of Kenyans has evaporated and reached a saturation point.

The officials said their lobby group will pursue all legal avenues to recover grabbed public properties and funds stashed in offshore accounts by the corrupt. 

Meanwhile, KEPAM is appealing to Kenya’s development partners especially the US, UK and European Union (EU) nations to come to the country’s rescue in the fight against graft.

Robert Ndede, an official of KEPAM in New York wondered why the US government has not implemented tough sanctions including freezing of offshore accounts, blocking international criminal deals and travel bans  on Kenyan government officials implicated in looting.

“Our country cannot continue celebrating the men and women who loot with impunity and after every 5 years, they use the loot to lure voters to elect them,” said Dr Tom Mogondo of Kansas City, Missouri. 

“Kenyans at home and abroad are now in one accord... The poor, students, farmers, touts, the jobless etc are the majority while the looters are the minority.” “We have the capacity to defeat this minority so that we can restore our nation and put it on the right hands,” said Ali Ali from Britain. 

They appealed to Kenyans from all parts of the country who believes in social justice, fairness, equity and equality to come out in large numbers so that together, we can send the looters home under the Redeem Kenya Demo. 

"Restoring Kenya will need the sacrifices of Kenyans in global North, South, East and West," said Mogondo.