President Uhuru Kenyatta's renewed war on corruption has received a major boost after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party threw its weight behind the fight which has seen various top government officials arrested and charged.
The chairman of the Raila Odinga-led party John Mbadi urged the President not to back down on the fight against graft despite facing opposition from a section of leaders from his Jubilee Party who have maintained that the war was targeting Deputy President William Ruto and the Kalenjin community.
Mbadi, who is also the MP for Suba South, said the opposition coalition NASA would vote against Uhuru's impeachment if the leaders opposed to the ongoing purge on graft table a motion to impeach the President.
"I want to ask the President, who is the appointing authority, that he should not fear anyone. The time when he was being threatened with impeachment is gone. If a section of Jubilee wants to impeach him, as NASA we will protect him if he is fighting corruption," he said during a function in Rarienda constituency on Sunday.
Rift Valley leaders led by Senators Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo-Marakwet) and Samson Cherargei (Nandi) have opposed Uhuru's directive on lifestyle audit claiming it was targeted at Ruto in a move aimed at sabotaging his 2022 presidential bid.
Area MPs have condemned the recent arrests of top managers of Kenya Power led by former CEO Ben Chumo and current MD Ken Tarus saying the anti-corruption war was targeted at members of their community while those from Uhuru's side have been spared.
"We support the war on corruption, but the arrests should not be targeted at a particular region. It seems to be all leaning to one side. Let us be fair in the treatment of all suspects because we know there are people who were mentioned in season one of NYS saga but they are walking freely," said Nelson Koech, who is Belgut's MP during a press conference last week.
The apparent opposition to every step by Uhuru against graft by Ruto allies has led to speculation they could be planning to impeach the President to cripple the efforts.