Stop politicising graft war, Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga tells politicians

NAIROBI, KENYA: An MP has called on the national and county governments to tighten the noose on corrupt officers to save the taxpayer from losing more money to cartels.

Nyatike MP Omondi Anyanga warned that development cannot thrive in an environment where corruption is allowed to carry the day.

“We need to take the fight against corruption to another level. Graft is entrenched within all levels of government and must be dealt with without fear of favour,” he said.

Anyanga said action should also be taken against anyone who diverts money means for key undertakings such as roads to initiate none priority projects due to vested interests.

The MP, who is a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), however, cautioned politicians against politicising the war against corruption.

He said politicians should stop interfering with investigations or making comments on issues under investigation, saying politics compromises the outcome of any probe.

“Politicians should give investigating agencies, including parliamentary committees, time to investigate issues. This way, we can be assured of credible conclusions at the end of it all,” he told The Standard.

He spoke as a recent report by the office of the Auditor General showed Sh338 billion of the total government expenditure for 2011/2012 was unaccounted for. According to the damning report, only 6 per cent of the Sh920 billion that the government spent (Sh55.2 billion) was fully accounted for in the period under review.

Anyanga also said the war on corruption should not be used to witch-hunt public servants, saying those suspected to have been involved in graft must be treated with civility and given chance to explain themselves within the rule of law.

“Public servants, whether suspects or not, should be given maximum respect. Civil servants work under pressure and whenever corruption is suspected to have occurred, the principle of innocent until proved guilty should apply,” Anyanga, who is also the chairman of the Migori County Parliamentary group, said in Nairobi.

He said Kenyans must appreciate the role of civil servants in nation building and that any matter incriminating them should be investigated with due diligence.