NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 26 – President Uhuru Kenyatta on
Thursday afternoon took the ‘bull of corruption’ by the horns and
directed all government officials mentioned in a confidential report by
the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to step aside pending
investigations.
President Kenyatta said in his State of the Nation address that he expected officials of county governments and the Judiciary named in the report to also vacate office.
“I hereby direct that all officials of the national and county governments that are adversely mentioned in this report, whether you are a Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, or Chief Executive of a State institution to immediately step aside pending conclusion of the investigations of the allegations against them,” he said amid cheers from Members of Parliament.
President Kenyatta took the bold step of attaching the confidential report from the CEO of the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission Halake Wako as part of his annual report on values to Parliament, urging Speakers of both Houses to ensure they were put to good use.
“It is not my place to determine the guilt or otherwise of any of the people mentioned in the said report or any other. However, the time has come to send a strong signal to the country that my administration will accept nothing less than the highest standard of integrity from those that hold high office,” added the President.
He gave the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko 60 days to ensure the investigations were concluded, in a bid to fight corruption which has been endemic.
“The investigating authority must ensure that the Director of Public Prosecutions has received the subject files without delay. I also want to caution that this should not be an open-ended process; justice must be expeditious, as justice delayed is justice denied.”
He expressed concern over the wrangles recently witnessed in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) saying this was negatively impacting the fight against corruption.
He was given a standing ovation by MPs who urged him to fire the commissioners but he reminded them it was their duty.
President Kenyatta said in his State of the Nation address that he expected officials of county governments and the Judiciary named in the report to also vacate office.
“I hereby direct that all officials of the national and county governments that are adversely mentioned in this report, whether you are a Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, or Chief Executive of a State institution to immediately step aside pending conclusion of the investigations of the allegations against them,” he said amid cheers from Members of Parliament.
President Kenyatta took the bold step of attaching the confidential report from the CEO of the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission Halake Wako as part of his annual report on values to Parliament, urging Speakers of both Houses to ensure they were put to good use.
“It is not my place to determine the guilt or otherwise of any of the people mentioned in the said report or any other. However, the time has come to send a strong signal to the country that my administration will accept nothing less than the highest standard of integrity from those that hold high office,” added the President.
He gave the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko 60 days to ensure the investigations were concluded, in a bid to fight corruption which has been endemic.
“The investigating authority must ensure that the Director of Public Prosecutions has received the subject files without delay. I also want to caution that this should not be an open-ended process; justice must be expeditious, as justice delayed is justice denied.”
He expressed concern over the wrangles recently witnessed in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) saying this was negatively impacting the fight against corruption.
He was given a standing ovation by MPs who urged him to fire the commissioners but he reminded them it was their duty.
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