People convicted of corruption offences could be in for tough times as MPs push for life imprisonment.
In the proposed changes to the Anti- Corruption and Economic Crimes Act any person found culpable of corruption will face a similar sentence to those convicted of murder.
The amendment comes as the government stepped up the war against the rampant corruption in the public service following the arrest and arraignment in court of Youth Principal Secretary Lillian Mbogo over the Sh9 billion National Youth Service scandal.
NYS Director-General Richard Ndubai, 40 other public servants and proprietors of entities that supplied nothing to the NYS but got paid, have also been charged.
[caption caption="MP Ndindi Nyoro"]
[/caption]
If found guilty, they will face tough measures as proposed by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro in his legislative proposal to Speaker Justin Muturi.
“It is important that as the oversight authority in terms of prudent use of public resources, the National Assembly tightens all the loopholes that have made the fight against corruption a challenge,” Nyoro maintained.
Nyoro proposed a life imprisonment, which is a sentence similar to those convicted of capital offences such as manslaughter and robbery with violence.
He further wants the relinquishment of property and enhanced fines which he maintained was aimed at reducing the high levels of corruption in the public service.
The legislators also proposed that timelines be introduced in the law so that all corruption cases be heard and determined within three months.
[caption caption="MP Ndindi Nyoro"]
[/caption]
“This will ensure that justice is served within the required time as opposed to the current situation, where cases drag on in court for years and at the end, the suspects are set free to go and spend the ill-gotten wealth. This is something we want to contain,” the lawmaker argued.
Notably, Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura had moved a similar motion in the Senate that sought to have corrupt government officials hanged.
"I have just moved a motion against corruption on the floor of the Kenyan Senate calling upon parliament to pass a law where anyone found culpable of theft be summarily executed at a public square," Mwaura indicated.
