Uhuru not a corrupt leader, Moi declares

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi addressing residents at Oledeem in Narok North during the homecoming ceremony of ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit. Mr Moi has defended President Kenyatta on corruption. [PHOTO:ROBERT KIPLAGAT/Standard]

Kanu national chairman Senator Gideon Moi has defended President Uhuru Kenyatta against corruption allegations.

Gideon, who is also the Baringo senator, said he knows the President at a personal level and is confident that Mr Kenyatta is not corrupt. Instead, Gideon laid the blame on corruption on the doorsteps of unnamed personalities around the presidency.

Speaking at Oledeem Village in Narok North Constituency during a thanksgiving ceremony for the newly-elected ACK Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit, Gideon said Uhuru means well for the country.

“Uhuru is a good President who means well for this country. I have grown up with him and he is my friend. He is not a thief but those around him are the problem,” Gideon said.

The senator, who shared a podium with CORD co-principal Raila Odinga and former KNC party leader Peter Kenneth, congratulated the archbishop on his election saying that his position was an indication that the Maa community can even clinch the presidency.

Speaking at the same function, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga criticised the Jubilee Administration over corruption saying the government was combative on criticism over corruption.

“This Jubilee government has eaten too much. It is high time Kenyans took their Identification Cards and voters’ cards to send them home. We also want the Mau issue resolved soon and we shall not relent on this,” Raila said.

Kenneth echoed Raila’s sentiments on the need to fight corruption but defended the government saying it is the individuals involved in scandals who should face the law at a personal level.

“The government is not corrupt. It is some few individuals who are corrupt. Those who will be found culpable of corruption should be jailed without the option of fine,” said Kenneth.

Politics of development

Kenneth has since joined President Kenyatta’s led Jubilee Party and taken legal steps of decamping from his KNC party by way of officially notifying Registrar of Political Parties of his resignation from KNC.

Speaking in Kwale County, Deputy President William Ruto also defended government saying allegations of corruption against the government is a tactic employed by the Opposition to distract Jubilee from its development agenda.

“Those who are competing with us have no plan for this country. Their manifesto is how to generate propaganda and hold demonstrations. Kenyans will have an easy choice,” he said.

Speaking at Oledeem Village, Gideon caused laughter when he asked the Maa community to shun family planning and embark on increasing their population.

“Kenyan politics today is all about numbers. Without numbers, you are nowhere. My message to you is that you increase your population. Those telling you about family planning should be your enemies,” Moi told the crowd amid applause.

The legislator said with numbers, the community would have a huge bargaining power arguing that it is what one brings to the table in terms of numbers that matters.

The KANU chair, who was accompanied by the party Secretary General Nick Salat, called for the revival of unity of the pastoral communities such as Kalenjin, Maasai, Turkana and Samburu (Kamatusa) to boost their voice.

“We need to unite. Some years back when we were under Kamatusa, no one could dare us. I do not know what became of it but we need to go back there,” he said.

Senator Gideon also wooed Kenneth to join the independence party saying that he must have been misled to ditch his KNC party to join Jubilee in order to run for the Nairobi City County governorship.

He said Kanu was still a force to reckon with and will soon shake the country politically.

He pointed out that Kenneth was better placed being in Kanu and advised him to go for the Murang’a seat instead of Nairobi.

Other leaders at the function were Narok Governor Samuel ole Tunai, Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta and Kanchori Memusi (Kajiado Central MP).