President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Friday, made declarations in the fight against corruption during the National Anti-Corruption Conference hosted at Bomas.
He acknowledged that corruption had become a menace in the country with widespread blame games between the prosecutors and the Judiciary.
He, therefore, vowed to relentlessly work towards ending the vice.
Engage with international partners
Uhuru revealed that the state would continue engaging with the international community to ensure that extradition of corrupt cases goes through.
“The coming months, I believe, we will see increased repatriation of the process of crime held outside the country as well as extradition of suspects and receipt of key evidence to support both local and international based cases,” stated the president.
Crackdown on High profile corruption cases
Uhuru also revealed that the government would relentlessly pursue high profile cases already in courts as well as launch a crackdown to ensure all corrupt persons are held accountable.
“For the first time, no person is beyond the reach of the long arm of the law no matter how powerful or influential they may perceive themselves to be.
"With the support received from my government, all the institutions in the criminal justice system, it is indeed my firm belief that the high profile prosecution cases that have already been brought before the court are just the opening act,” he continued.
He further revealed that all arms of government were working together to ensure that the vice is done away with.
Ordered JSC to Clean Up its system
The president further asked the Judiciary in general and Judiciary Service Commission (JSC) in particular, to clean up its system and stop protecting those guilty of corruption.
“Our courts must stop the practice of using injunctions against investigations of corrupt activities. Issuing this orders makes it easier for the hindrance of corruption to destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses,” he paused.
He cited court injunctions that led to stalled road projects involving international loans such as that of the World Bank.
“The Judicial service commission must now decide whether they shall clean up the house for themselves, or whether they will have it done for them,” remarked Uhuru.
Regulate Parastatal heads
Uhuru further divulged that parastatal chiefs should not be allowed to use the public coffers to enrich themselves.
He directed that all those who held positions should not be allowed to be players in the industry they regulate.
“Those in the arena of road traffic regulations, should not at the same time be players in the industry that they supervise,” he stated.
Bill of conflict interest.
The president also ordered the Attorney General to prepare a bill that would address the conflict of interest in for public office holders.
He explained that the bill should seek to bar people with a higher power from using their influence to seek information and proceed to use it in their own pursuits.
“Example, MPs including senators should no longer be able to use committee powers to demand information from public offices and then utilise that same information in their own pursuits,” he concluded.
