At least 12 MPs allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga have accused Deputy President William Ruto’s allies of undermining the war against corruption.
The lawmakers said the attacks directed at Uhuru, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss George Kinoti and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji over the ongoing corruption investigations were being spearheaded by corrupt elements in the Jubilee administration.
They said it was unfortunate that Ruto’s allies had politised and ethnicised the war on corruption. They vowed to support the President in his resolve to go after the corrupt within his administration.
Naomi Shaban (Taveta), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Gathoni wa Muchomba (Kiambu), Lilian Gogo (Rangwe), Cecil Mbarire (nominated), Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga), Elsie Muhanda (Kakamega), Mishi Mboko (Likoni), Rosa Buyu (Kisumu) and Dennitah Ghati (nominated), said they would not allow those against the fight to insult the President.
Ms Mbarire told her Jubilee colleagues allied to Ruto that they would not take political attacks directed at the President lying down.
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“Instead of embracing the war against corruption, they have decided to ethnicise and politicise it. I want to tell those in Jubilee that you have never seen us (Uhuru allies) come out to insult the Deputy President. The same should apply to the President,” she said.
Mrs Shaban said Mr Kinoti and Mr Haji should continue with investigations without fear, as the country was fully behind them.
“We take great exception with the emerging tendency to scare the DCI from doing its work. I want to ask MPs to stop interfering with the work of investigative agencies,” said Shaban.
Mrs Wanga said claims that the agencies were being used to fight political wars were diversionary tactics by elements out to defeat the war on corruption. “We reject any insinuation that Uhuru is DCI and DCI is Uhuru. We want to ask Uhuru and the DCI not to be distracted by those making noise in funerals,” said Wanga.
