Gideon Moi: No community is being targeted in graft war

Baringo Senator Gideon Moi yesterday told off Rift Valley leaders who have been attacking President Uhuru Kenyatta over the fight against graft.

Gideon warned those implicated in corruption against dragging their community or region into their woes, and said a community’s name should not be used by a few corrupt individuals seeking empathy.

The Kanu chairman was speaking during the official opening of a Sh19 million tuition block at Chebonei Girls High School in Tenwek, Bomet County where he urged the community to guard its name jealously.

Gideon warned that the integrity of the community lies in its name, saying if it is not guarded it can affect the future of its generation.

“The integrity of the community should be guarded and nobody should be allowed to taint it,” he said.

Senator Moi said the actions of a few corrupt individuals should not be allowed to haunt the community in the future.

Sharp criticism

Allies of Deputy President William Ruto in Jubilee have come under sharp criticism for attacking President Kenyatta over the ongoing war on corruption.

At one time, some leaders had declared that they were ready to ditch Jubilee, saying the war against graft had been used as an excuse to fight Ruto.

Yesterday, Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat accused the DP’s allies of hiding behind the Kalenjin community in an attempt to frustrate the fight against corruption.

Salat said Jubilee leaders were creating a wrong narrative that the community was being targeted for selfish politics. “There is nothing to do with our community in the ongoing waragainst corruption. It is a fight against theft of resources that is threatening to deny Kenyans development,” he said.

“We are also members of the Kalenjin community and we do not see where this narrative created by Jubilee leaders is coming from. As Kalenjin we support the war on corruption.”

Salat asked the leaders driving the narrative to stop hiding behind the community and carry their own cross for their role in the loss of public resources.

“Their behaviour and deeds are very suspicious and a pointer they have a role in the loss of public resources. They should carry their own cross and avoid invoking the community’s nam as a defence,” he said, and faulted the leaders attacking President Kenyatta, saying it is disrespectful.

“The exchanges and attacks on President Kenyatta are not healthy and the leaders should restrain themselves,” he said, and asked the DP to record a statement on information he has on the loss of dam projects funds.

“It seems the Deputy President has information after claiming that only Sh7 billion was in question. He should be on his way to the DCI to set the record straight,” the former Bomet MP said.

Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto, Baringo Woman Representative Gladwel Tungo and five former MPs said the Jubilee allies should respect the Presidency for the sake of unity in the country. “The Presidency is a symbol of unity and should be respected by everyone and our leaders who have resorted to hurling insults for political millage should stop it,” Ruto said.

He added that the leaders were exposing the Kalenjin community to isolation. “If our Jubilee parliamentarians have issues, they should seek the attention of the President rather than hurl insults that can jeopardise development in our region.”

Former MPs Magerer Langat (Kipkelion), Paul Sang (Bureti) and Anthony Kimetto (Sotik) shared Salat’s sentiments, saying they support the war on corruption. The leaders asked President Uhuru not to relent in the fight.