You are living on borrowed time, Uhuru warns corrupt CSs

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the Nation during the State of the Nation Address at Parliament on Thursday 04/04/19. Looking on are National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi (L) and Senate Counterpart Ken Lusaka[Boniface Okendo/Standard]

President Uhuru Kenyatta has declared that he will not bow to public pressure to sack top officials implicated in corruption until they are prosecuted.

He said according to the law, no one was condemned unheard.

During this year’s State of the Nation address from Parliament yesterday, the Head of State’s statement dampened expectations that big names would come tumbling down in similar fashion to 2015, when Cabinet secretaries were asked to step aside after they were linked to graft.  

This time, the President was more measured, an indication he had confidence that law enforcement agencies would bring watertight cases against those suspected of looting Government coffers.     

The President, however, warned Cabinet secretaries mentioned in corruption scandals that they were living on borrowed time, and made it clear that there would be no place to hide once they were charged.  

“I’ve been under pressure on whom am I sacking. But I must caution that the pursuit of the corruption will be undertaken within the law. It will not be taken through vigilante justice and pitchfork protest,” the President aid.

He continued: “Though media narratives rally our resolve as they should, our actions shall not be based on condemnation before one has been heard. The cornerstone of our democracy is the rule of law and the principle of due process is a critical anchor of that principle.”

“... we must aspire to abide by this ideal and ensure that we don’t pursue justice in one area and injustice in another. I remain confident in our institutions to deliver justice on the strength of the evidence and fidelity to the law.”

He maintained that anyone whose case goes before court would be removed from Government, adding that the individual would thereafter have to answer before a court of law.

The President declared that the war against corruption was one that he was certain “we will win”.

“There will be no turning back in the war against corruption and impunity. There will be no sacred cows, no compromise. The fight against corruption is a fight for the soul of our nation,” he said.

The President’s address was pursuant to Article 132 of the Constitution, which requires him to address the nation at least once a year.

The Jubilee government has been mired in scandals and there are ongoing investigations against a number of Cabinet secretaries linked to graft.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is probing, among others, the multibillion shilling Kimwarer and Arror dam projects. Three CSs have recorded statements. 

The law compels the President to enumerate measures taken and progress achieved in the realisation of national values, as well as progress made in fulfilling the country’s international obligations.

“Kenyans have spoken loudly and challenged us as leaders to do all it takes to eradicate this cancer. My administration has opened an all-out assault on corruption,” Uhuru said amidst applause from MPs. 

He noted that since 2015, when he kicked off the war on corruption, eight Cabinet secretaries and eight principal secretaries had stepped aside to give way for investigations and prosecution, a concept previously unknown in public sector management.

Likewise, he acknowledged that even current and former governors, and more than 30 chief executive officers of State corporations, were under investigation or prosecution for various corruption related offences.

They include Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong and his Samburu counterpart Moses Lenolkulal, who was charged this week in relation to the alleged theft of Sh84 million from his county’s coffers.

Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero was also charged last year.  

“In several cases, banks and other financial institutions have been fined for breach of regulatory duty,” he said.

Yesterday’s was the second State of the Nation address during the President’s final term.

The President is scrambling to build his legacy on the back of challenges that have bedeviled his administration, key among them high level corruption that could have led to the loss of billions of taxpayers’ money.

While giving a progress report on the state of security, international obligations and national values anchored in Article 10 of the Constitution, apart from corruption, the President singled out disunity and exclusivity as some of the challenges hindering the country’s progress.

Uhuru dwelt on corruption, devolution, the Building Bridges Initiative, the Big Four agenda, national cohesion and security.

Present during the address was Deputy President William Ruto, ODM leader Raila Odinga, Chief Justice David Maraga, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, his Amani National Congress counterpart Musalia Mudavadi and other dignitaries.

He called for the strengthening of investigating and prosecuting agencies, especially the Judiciary and Parliament.

“We need to ensure that corruption cases are heard and determined on a priority basis… I particularly urge the Judiciary not to appear to protect their own…” said the President, even as he assured the Chief Justice that the statement was not meant to dictate to the Judiciary how to do its work.

In the shortest speech ever, lasting only one hour and 30 minutes, Uhuru commended the progress made since the March 9, 2018 handshake with Raila.

“We all know the damage that we have suffered in the past as a result of discord amongst ourselves. Indeed, it remains an urgent agenda to bring harmony and civility to the political landscape and discourse in the country. That is what informed the Building Bridges Initiative, commonly known as the handshake,” he said.

He continued: “In all our cultures, a handshake is an expression of friendship, goodwill, trust and reconciliation. It is synonymous with peace. Our handshake has been followed by millions of handshakes across the country.”

“We cannot and we are not turning back on uniting the country. We have chosen the hard road, we have chosen the hard road of building unity against the easy road of division. The BBI is engaging Kenyans across the county and we will soon have an opportunity to comment on their findings and recommendations.”

He urged Parliament to approve retributive Sh10 billion to heal the wounds of historical grievances “which have long poisoned our politics and stained communal relationship.”