Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has faulted President Uhuru Kenyatta for exonerating himself from spiraling corruption.
Speaking on Tuesday during the Governance and Accountability Summit at State House, Uhuru said he had given his all to help anti-corruption agencies tackle corruption, yet nothing was moving.
In a statement to newsrooms, Mudavadi further criticized Uhuru for allegedly suggesting he was misled in firing cabinet and permanent secretaries in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) list two years ago, saying the agency is yet to provide incriminating evidence against them.
“His demeanor was that of throwing in the towel by washing his hands off the anti-corruption war which amounts to the executive surrendering to corruption cartels. This is not the kind of response expected of a president determined to root out corruption. The posture of helplessness doesn’t inspire the war against corruption.”
“What then is the message to ordinary Kenyans? That they should learn to live with corruption that takes away their livelihoods?” read the statement in part.
Mudavadi also accused Uhuru of yearning for authoritarian presidency for insinuation that he is powerless against corruption, due to constitutional limitations.
“Despite their independent mandate and functions of anti-corruption agencies, pubic officers work at the behest of the president and nothing stops him prosecuting against any complacent or compromised agency. He demonstrated this ability to get things done when he got EACC commissioners relieved of their duties in record time,” said Mudavadi.
The 2017 presidential aspirant gave an example of the elderly and orphan funds project, saying all major projects undertaken by the Jubilee government have been marred by corruption.
“Money is going to pockets of ghost beneficiaries while the qualified beneficiaries are turned away on flimsy grounds. Many beneficiaries were registered but don’t get disbursements. The situation will get the worse given the biting drought in parts of the country where the transfers alleviate suffering,” he said