Uhuru takes anti-graft crusade to counties

President Uhuru Kenyatta, CORD leader Raila Odinga and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru join county governors in a commemoration picture during the Second Devolution Conference in Kisumu. [PHOTO: TITUS MUNALA/STANDARD]

Kisumu, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday took his anti-corruption drive to the counties with a special plea to governors to weed out corruption from their governments.

Speaking during the official opening of the Second Devolution Conference in Kisumu, Uhuru warned that corruption was undermining the devolution promise, and asked county governments to take advantage of their infancy to start on a clean slate.

The president, who recently blew the cover on top national and county government officials accused of corruption by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said he was pleased by Kenyan's support against graft.

“While devolution holds the key to a prosperous and equitable Kenya, this promise is being undermined by bad financial governance; simply put, corruption. We as a people must, without exception, be prepared to eliminate this evil practice,” he said.

“I am pleased to note that the people of Kenya demonstrated their support by categorically rejecting corruption at all levels of government, and in all sectors of our national life,” he told the delegates at Kisumu's Tom Mboya Labour College.

Some of the governors mentioned on the EACC list tabled in Parliament by the President a few weeks ago, including their chairman Isaac Ruto were in attendance.

Uhuru told the county chiefs that the resources available to develop the country have been generated through toil and sacrifice, and must be utilised prudently and for the intended legal purposes.

"I am busy fighting corruption in the national government. I do not wish any governor to ever have that problem on their hands. Devolution is two years old now. You have an opportunity to start afresh and entrench traditions of professionalism, diligence and integrity in county governments," he said.

DEVOLUTION PRINCIPLES

"Do not waste this opportunity. Let’s make the people of Kenya proud by rejecting corruption and embracing integrity," he added.

He defended devolution, describing it as the heart of national transformation, heart of national rebirth and "core around, which every component of our dispensation’s paradigm shift is arranged".

He said his government was totally committed to ensuring the success of devolution, because it ranks at the very top of his priority list.

 

"Expectations are high, and rightly so. There is no turning back. We are gathered here on the understanding that at both levels of government, we are in this together. We therefore need to form a consensus on how best each of us can do our part to make devolution a resounding success,” he said.

He asked delegates not to lose sight of three principles of devolution, which are; strengthening the sovereignty of Kenyans, strengthening national unity and equitable sharing of resources.

He also took the opportunity to defend his Government from persistent claims that it had frustrated devolution.

LEAN GOVERNMENTS

He said his government had undertaken initiatives to implement its mandate under devolution. He had also supported quick and smooth transition, as well as creation of capacity for counties.

“Over the past two years, my government has accelerated the expansion of resource allocation to county governments,” he said.

He said his government was implementing capacity assessments in counties, and asked governments at all levels to be lean, efficient, transparent, citizen-centred and competent. Uhuru said entrenchment of devolution is an ongoing process and lessons should be picked along the way and implemented.

"I pray that history would assign the current leadership the legacy of those who did their best and succeeded in laying a perfect foundation for devolution," said Uhuru.