Mudavadi warns leaders against using tribalism to evade accountability

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi speaking in Nairobi during the unveiling of the TSC 2023 -2027 strategic plan on 6th July 2023. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged leaders not to use tribalism as a way of escaping responsibility for their actions.

He said that the law would catch up with those who have misused public funds, regardless of their ethnic background.

Mudavadi was speaking on Saturday, August 26, at the launch of the Mulukhoba Fish Landing site in Busia County.

He was accompanied by President William Ruto, his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, and other leaders.

The launch was part of President Ruto's five-day development tour of the Western Kenya region.

Mudavadi said that some leaders resort to playing the victim card and inciting their communities whenever investigations are initiated against them.

He said that this was a tactic to divert attention from the real issues of corruption and mismanagement.

"We do not want people to exploit tribalism to shield themselves because money has been misappropriated in various parts of the country - within our institutions, the national government, and county governments. All of this involves public funds," he stated.

Mudavadi added the investigative agencies should be given time to do their work and that the courts should be the final arbiter of justice.

He said that those who are innocent have nothing to fear, while those who are guilty should face the consequences.

"Let's refrain from leveraging our tribal affiliations to impede the fight against corruption," he urged.

Mudavadi's statement comes days after former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and his wives were arrested by officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over an alleged loss of Sh1.3 billion during his tenure as county boss.

According to the EACC, the money was acquired illegally through proxies and associates.

Oparanya has since maintained his innocence terming the arrest a political witch hunt.