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Acid test for Ruto as allies caught in scams only eight months after poll

And there appears to be no stopping.

The president got some endorsement in his fight against corruption from National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wa during the burial of former Kandara MP David Waweru Ng'ethe, the father of Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie.

"You have shown in action and not words that you mean business in protecting the property and resources raised nationally in our country," said the Kikuyu MP in a message that was picked up at the funeral in Murang'a yesterday.

"Fighting corruption is not a matter of lip service. You are no longer being judged by what you say in regard to corruption. You are being judged by the breadth and depth of the action that you are already taking," said Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro.

Murang'a Woman Representative Betty Maina offered perhaps the firmest assurance that the fight against corruption would not be politicised, as it was when former president Uhuru Kenyatta cracked the whip.

"When you sack the corrupt officials, even if it is a Kikuyu, we will not say that our community is targeted. We have not sent any thieves to you," Maina said.

The president's actions are seen as a warning shot to corrupt officials and a strategy to shed the "corrupt" tag that the opposition has associated with him. Coming into last year's election, Ruto faced criticism for allegedly staying silent on corruption and the plunder of public resources.

His selection of a running mate that had been ordered to forfeit Sh200 million to the state, deemed to be proceeds of corruption, only served to strengthen Azimio candidate Raila Odinga's case.

And when Ruto named his Cabinet and other top officials, the inclusion of persons facing criminal charges, as well as those previously implicated in corruption scandals, cast doubt on his resolve to end the theft of public funds.

The latest is former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa, who was yesterday appointed as the chairperson of the Kenya Water Tower Agency Board.

Ruto's pick for Central Bank Governor, former Treasury PS Kamau Thugge, had been charged in the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dams' corruption case, but the state withdrew charges against him.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has since had corruption charges (in a Sh7.3 billion scandal) against him dropped and the Sh200 million rewired to his account.

Many of the corruption cases against Ruto's allies have collapsed, raising suspicion of state influence. Various civil society groups as well as the opposition have raised the red flag, accusing the government of "institutionalising" corruption.

Ruto has dismissed some of the cases as politically-instigated, with outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji claiming he had been under pressure to charge certain politicians.

The president's action has not impressed the opposition Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya. On Tuesday, Azimio leader Raila Odinga called for action against those at the top of the Health Ministry, including CS Susan Nakhumicha, who the former prime minister as bearing the greatest responsibility in matters touching on her docket.

Reports that top government officials were involved in the sugar scam could also see calls for the president to act firmer.

It is a task that has confronted former presidents, amid calls that the "big fish" be brought to book. Not many convictions have been secured, with cases against top officials going frequently going cold. Amid allegations of corruption against members of his Cabinet, Uhuru suspended some on separate occasions.

In 2015, he suspended five CSs who had been adversely mentioned in a report of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. They included the current head of public service Felix Koskei, who headed the Agriculture ministry, Davis Chirchir (Energy), Michael Kamau (Transport), Charity Ngilu (Water) and Kazungu Kambi (Labour).

Uhuru's action was met with backlash, mostly among politicians from Rift Valley, who accused Ruto's predecessor of targeting a particular community. Such accusations only grew louder when in 2016, he suspended former Treasury CS Henry Rotich after he was charged with corruption-related offences over the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal.

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru quit her role as CS in 2015, Devolution weeks after she was linked to a Sh791 million scandal at the National Youth Service, citing health issues.

Mwai Kibaki, too, had to navigate landmines when members of his Cabinet such as Chris Murungaru (Internal Security) and David Mwiraria (Finance) were forced to resign in 2006 over the Anglo Leasing scandal.