No one will be spared in war against graft, says Deputy President William Ruto

By Rawlings Otieno

Nairobi, Kenya: Deputy President William Ruto has warned against corruption in public offices, saying everyone must be accountable to the resources placed on their shoulders. “Nobody is too weak or too powerful to resist accountability. There must be transparency from the leaders,” Ruto said.

The DP maintained that government officers must ensure they are answerable to the oversight authority, adding that they have a responsibility to the citizens in general.

“All public officers have no option but to face the oversight authorities on issues of management whenever there are questions on the use of resources in their respective places of work. I want to assure you that no one will be spared in the war against graft,” said Ruto.

Speaking during the official launch of Accountability Kenya, Ruto cautioned MPs and Members of the County Assembly serving in their respective Public Accounts Committees (PAC) that they must be people of integrity and be wary of being compromised.

Ruto said those behind the ‘Hustler’s jet’, the laptop tender and the Sh500 billion that cannot be accounted for as indicated in the Auditor General’s report must answer some questions.

The DP said the biggest threat to devolution are people opposed to accountability, noting that a lot of resources have been allocated to the national and county governments.

“There is a script going round that if you question about the issue of accountability, you are branded an enemy of Constitution,” said the tough talking Ruto.

Governors’ task

PAC Chairman and Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba said the committee has a divine responsibility of oversight in both the National and county level.

He said those who misappropriate funds and fail to account how they have used them are the enemies of devolution.

He challenged the governors to take the responsibility on how they manage cash allocated to counties.

Kisumu Senator Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o warned the members of PAC against temptation of what he termed as ‘rent seeking’, saying that those charged with oversight must be people of integrity.

“Members of PAC must have the least temptation in being compromised,” said Nyong’o.

The senator said corruption has continued to eat the resources that should have otherwise have helped improve people’s lives.