Uhuru takes on corruption as Kenya turns 50

President Uhuru Kenyatta arrives at the Kasarani Stadium for the Jamhuri Day celebrations on December 12, 2013. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL 

By EDWIN MUTAI and MUGAMBI MUTEGI, pmutegi@ke.nationmedia.com

In Summary

• President tells anti-corruption agency to act on all public officers who are amassing illicit wealth.

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday marked Kenya’s 50th birthday with a fresh declaration of war on corruption, which he identified as the biggest obstacle to progress in the country.

Warning that there is no longer ‘‘mali ya umma’’ (Kiswahili phrase meaning wealth that belongs to no individual), Mr Kenyatta directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to prosecute any public official involved in the vice of corruption.

The ‘‘mali ya umma’’ phrase has been blamed for rampant looting of public resources on the understanding that it belonged to no one.

“The newly-reconstituted Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission must investigate and bring to book all those involved in corruption,” the President said even as he cautioned Kenyans against paying bribes or participating in corrupt activities.

Mr Kenyatta, who addressed the nation from Safaricom Stadium Kasarani, promised Kenyans good governance based on the principles established in the Constitution.

“I pledge to adhere to good governance and the rule of law and all leaders must be ready to be held accountable for their action,” said Mr Kenyatta, insisting that public officers will not be allowed to use their offices to acquire illicit wealth.

Kenya, he added, had lost many opportunities for growth in the last 50 years as a result of selfishness, bad politics, ethnicity and corruption, including multi-billion- shilling scams.

The list of mega scams includes Goldenberg, which dates back to 1990 and involved the alleged exportation of gold and jewellery and in which the country is estimated to have lost about Sh100 billion.

Over the years, not only have the suspected architects been absolved of wrong doing, but the money was never recovered.

Another scandal, Anglo-Leasing, is said to have cost the taxpayers about Sh60 billion through 18 dubious security sector related schemes hatched between 1998 and 2004.

The scams, including the controversial purchase of a naval ship from Spanish builders, were plotted during former President Moi’s reign and later adopted by the Kibaki government.

Mr Kenyatta also outlined measures that his government is taking to expand and grow the economy, warning politicians who are inciting communities to rise up against investors notably in oil and mineral exploitation.

“I want to warn those inciting local population to violence in areas of these discoveries that the government will use the full force of law. Legitimate concerns should be resolved peacefully since we don’t want to delay benefits that we all should enjoy,” he said. 

The discovery of coal, oil and other minerals of commercial value, he said, was an opportunity for Kenya to exploit them in order to grow the economy,” the President said.

The President’s remarks were in reference to the recent protests in Turkana County that forced the British oil explorer, Tullow Oil, to suspend its activities for about two weeks. Turkana residents and their leaders took to the streets to agitate for more jobs and money from the oil firm.