It’s just politics ahead of 2017, claim Kenyan MPs and governors in list of shame

Several politicians mentioned in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption report handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta are crying foul.

The leaders say the allegations have given their political opponents a stick to beat them ahead of the 2017 General Election.

“I was never informed that I was under investigation by anyone for whatever reason. But my opponents are busy telling my voters how a corrupt I am. This is unfair,” said an MP who confirmed to The Standard on Sunday that his name was on the list, but requested not to be named for now.

The governors, MPs and senators mentioned in the report have all denied the allegations levelled against them in the list handed over to the President by EACC.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, who has been at loggerheads with the government and Deputy President William Ruto, said he does not know how his name ended up in the report.

He accused the government of using corruption allegations to silence its critics. “This is just politics at play and I see something sinister in accusing elected leaders without giving them a chance to defend themselves,” he said.

Of three cabinet secretaries from the world of politics, only Kazungu Kambi (Labour) has stepped aside. The other two are Charity Ngilu (Lands) and Najib Balala (Mining).

Although both of them have been mentioned in corruption allegations since they were appointed, the duo was missing from the list of CSs suspended by the President. Balala was accused in 2013 of demanding bribes to issue or not to revoke mining licences to certain companies.

Ngilu has been mentioned several times in corruption allegations at the Ministry of Lands, the recent being the one in which she, together with Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, have been accused of colluding to grab a piece of land near State House, Nairobi.

Others mentioned include senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Johnstone Muthama (Machakos), both from the opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).

Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter and Nominated MP Sonia Birdi, both of Jubilee, are also in the list. The two were caught on camera harassing police officers at Gilgil weighbridge in February. Mr Keter has been a fierce critic of the DP and Jubilee government.

But it is hard to tell how these allegations will affect the careers of politicians mentioned.

Adams Oloo, a political analysts and a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, says the allegations will have minimal impact on the political careers of those mentioned.

“Corruption allegations against our politicians have never really influenced how voters look at them. If anything, they often manage to cleverly turn around the accusations in their favour by claiming it is the handiwork of their political enemies. If history is any guide, then ‘stepping aside’ is just one of those terms used to hoodwink the public that something is being done about corruption. It never amounts to much,” he said.

No cabinet minister who has stepped aside voluntarily over corruption allegations has ever been successfully prosecuted.