Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chief executive Halakhe Waqo. PHOTO | FILE
By KIARIE NJOROGE
The big question this year remains whether Kenya
finally send VIPs to prison over graft as the war on corruption moves a
notch higher.
Kenya has a history of multi-billion shilling corruption
scandals like the Goldenberg that have failed to result in high-profile
convictions, angering the public who say it shows how top officials act
with impunity, and encourages graft by those in lower posts.
A record number of former Cabinet ministers and
chief executives of State-owned firms are facing graft charges in court
that look set to be concluded this year.
Former ministers on the dock include Michael Kamau
(Transport), Charity Ngilu (Land), Chris Obure (Finance) are fighting
graft charges in court.
Others are former Judiciary Registrar Gladys Boss
Shollei, permanent secretaries Peter Mangiti, Dave Mwangi and Joseph
Magari as well as CEOs of state owned firms like Silas Simiyu
(Geothermal Development Corporation) and Charles Tonui (Kenya Pipeline).
“If we get one single conviction, it will
definitely transform the public perception and it will transform the
activities and attitudes of public servants,” Halakhe Waqo, Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission chief executive told Reuters last year.
“One conviction will be a big milestone.”
Mr Waqo said there were more than 300 corruption
cases pending in court and accused the Judiciary of being the weak link
in the war on graft.
A task force created to propose measures to deal
with corruption said that graft cases should be handled at the High
Court level rather than by magistrates to cut down on the time spent
trying the cases.
“So much time is lost between the magistrates
courts handling corruption cases and the High Court because suspects
will not miss issues to raise at the constitutional court,”
Attorney-General Githu Muigai who was heading the task force said.
Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has since created a
High Court division to deal with corruption and economic crimes which
starts working this month.
He has also increased the number of magistrates in
the anti-corruption court and directed that graft cases be heard on a
day-to-day basis until they are concluded
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