What did you imagine could happen to graft suspects after their arrests? On Wednesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta warned graft kingpins that they will pay dearly for looting the public purse.
Addressing the nation during Jamhuri Day celebrations, the President solemnly pledged that the corrupt will not evade justice.
“To those engaging in fraud and abuse of office, please listen to me keenly: You can run but you cannot hide. We will catch up with you, and make you pay dearly for every coin stolen from Kenyans,” Uhuru promised in Nyayo Stadium.
The warning is likely to dampen Christmas festivities for tens of graft suspects across government who are on the radar of anti-graft detectives. Many have already been questioned.
Deputy President William Ruto’s political allies have claimed the war is targeted at his allies to place roadblocks on his path to the presidency in 2022.
Top officials at NHIF, the Kenya Pipeline Company and the National Cereals and Produce Board are among those who were dramatically arrested last week and charged.
Uhuru said heads will roll and those who thought they were untouchable are in for a rude shock.
“Through the efforts of our investigative agencies and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, individuals who may have thought they were untouchable, are now facing the full force of the law. These individuals deserve fair trials but nothing more,” Uhuru said.
The head of state also announced that they had nearly sealed loopholes for stashing the looted cash abroad.
He said that as part of his government’s anti-corruption strategy, bilateral mutual legal assistance agreements have been signed with a number of countries in the west.
The strategy he said, is making the world a very small place with little manoeuvering room for corruption kingpins.
Do you think the government will manage to seal corruption loopholes?