On graft, Uhuru wants to have his cake, eat it

Is President Uhuru Kenyatta serious about fighting corruption? The answer is unclear. Over the last few years, Kenyatta has on numerous occasions expressed his commitment to end grant in the public sector. Yet no single high-level official is in jail. Indeed, several people the president outed in his infamous “List of Shame” have since found their way back into public service, appointed by Kenyatta himself! Are these the deeds of a man serious about fighting graft?

There is more damning evidence. For example, this week the focus was on the embattled Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, and his co-accused. Mr Rotich and others are charged with having violated several laws in handling of the financing of dam construction in Elgeyo Marakwet County. At face value this might be seem like a bold arrest. But it also raises questions. The Treasury is arguably the most important ministry. One might ask, for how long has Kenyatta known that Rotich and company were abetting looting of public funds?