President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday used twitter to make a passionate appeal to Kenyans to join efforts in the fight against corruption adding that the war against the menace was for the improvement of all in the country.
“Wakenya wenzangu (fellow Kenyans), the war against corruption and economic crimes is about the well being of our Republic. Let’s all join hands and vigorously fight this vice,” Uhuru said.
In keeping true to his words, the president has in recent months led from the front in pushing for the punishment of those implicated in corruption.
Mr Kenyatta said corrution, if not contained, will curtail the implementation of his Big Four Agenda on which he wants to rally on to leave a lasting legacy in his final term.
While addressing the 8th Presidential Round Table Forum at State House, Nairobi, on May 10, the president said time has come for the country to rise up as one and say no to corruption.
“We must address the real elephant in the room. We must say enough is enough for the country to move forward”, he said. The president said it was time for Kenyans to be blunt and honest with one another especially when things go wrong.
“We are all to blame. But we must now say enough is enough and move forward”, the President said.
To this end, the president has called for a lifestyle audit of all public servants, including himself and Deputy President William Ruto.
He also directed all procurement officers in public entities to step aside and undergo fresh vetting, including taking polygraph tests.
The president also directed the relevant institutions mandated with investigating and prosecuting economic crimes to do a thorough job and ensure those found culpable, even if it’s his brother, are held accountable.
The result of this has seen the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji order the arrest of senior officials at the National Youth Service and Kenya Power and take them to court.
The Presidents comments echoes those of Former Premier Raila Odinga who last week warned that corruption, if not checked, will lead the country in the wrong direction.
The former Prime minister also insisted his decison to join Uhuru Kenyatta was based of ending the political tension in the country and corruption.
“When I was attacking the government about corruption, most of the leaders said I was making noise, but finally the truth came out,” the Opposition chief said.
Raila added that corruption is almost making the country bankrupt. “It is just the beginning of the fight against the deadly monster,” he said.