Jubilee leaders blame President Uhuru Kenyatta on runaway graft

Members of the National Parliamentary Committee ( from left ) Joseph Gitari and Kabando Wakabando address the Media at Parliament Buildings 14/09/15 PHOTO:MOSES OMUSULA

A state of despair and dejection has gripped President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Mt Kenya backyard following high-level corruption and the worrying state of the economy facing the country.

Leaders and residents who are not known to criticise the Jubilee government now want decisive action taken, saying graft may grind the country to a halt.

The subject of the ailing economy as well as the runaway sleaze that has hit the country has become a topic of discussion in all forums across the region.

From church leaders to politicians, the message has been one – the president needs to act before it is too late.

In a rare criticism yesterday, a cross-section of leaders spoke on the need to have the issues addressed urgently saying the popularity of President Kenyatta was waning at an alarming rate.

In one of the harshest criticism, Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando was pulling no punches saying although he was part of the Jubilee Government, “I won’t jubilate impunity.”

“Stop calling or sending emissaries to me to say that the Boss is unhappy with me. What I know is that President Uhuru Kenyatta is incorruptible; (the) King must be told all is not well out here, in there!” Kabando said in response to a statement he had issued earlier calling for the sacking of all the ministers implicated in graft.

Mwea MP Peter Gitau was critical of the way the Government was tackling graft, saying ethnicity and political patronage should not be a factor in the fight against the vice.

“We do not want to hear that it is so and so’s community or region being targetted or being fought once an individual has been cited as having perpetuated corruption as did happen in the 1980s,” Mr Gitau said.

The MP said it should not matter “whose wife, son, girlfriend or brother it was when they are caught engaging in corruption as such individuals should be dealt with regardless of their family status”.

Carry own cross

Gitau said gone were the days when looters of State coffers went hiding under their community or tribal cocoons and warned that modern perpetrators of corruption should carry their own cross.

“Once you steal public money, you do it for your personal and your family good and you therefore stop dragging an entire community as being targetted,” he said.

The same sentiments were shared by Igembe North MP Joseph M’Eruaki and his Imenti North counterpart Rahim Dawood.

“President Kenyatta must walk the talk as far as corruption is concerned. I feel he has not done enough to tackle this disease, which is eating away at Kenyans’ hearts,” said M’Eruaki.

On his part Dawood said: “I think the Jubilee Government is not serious about corruption, as everyday there is a new scandal. This has to come to a stop if we, as a country, want to attain good economic growth.”

He said to show the president’s seriousness in tackling runaway graft, those found culpable, or are suspected, should be investigated and prosecuted.

Kirinyaga Anglican Diocesan Bishop Joseph Kibucwa said the country has lost direction and focus due to the high-level corruption incidents.

“It appears we as a country have lost direction and we do not know where we are headed to going by the massive financial scandals by those entrusted with public resources are engaged in,” the cleric said.

He said the country’s economic activities have ground to a halt due to the high interest bank rates, which most Kenyans cannot afford, courtesy of corruption.

Embu University College Champlain Father Joseph Kirimi also added his voice to the corruption debate by blaming the Jubilee administration for its hands-off style of leadership.

The priest also accused the government of applying double standards when it comes to dealing with hate speech mongers.

Ndia MP Stephen Ngari said those implicated in any form of corruption should start preparing themselves to face the full force of the law.

“As far as am concerned, any known perpetrator regardless of social class or family tree should be dealt with in accordance with the rule or law whether my brother, myself or whoever,’’ he said.

Nyeri Coordinator of the Ecumenical Bishops Council Paul Wanjohi said that corruption had become a national disaster that had also found its way into the church.

– Reports by Francis Ngige, Munene Kamau, Phares Mutembei and Lydiah Nyawira.