Members of the National Assembly on Wednesday, October 16, kicked out a bill tabled by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro which sought tougher punishment for corruption convicts.
The amendments to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (Amendment) Bill 2019, was seeking to have those found guilty of corruption be handed a minimum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
The proposal intended to upgrade the current law that prescribes a maximum fine of Ksh1 million and/or imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years and an additional mandatory fine determined depending on the amount of benefit the offender gained from their actions.
Nyoro's bill had suggested that the Ksh1 million be set as the minimum.
“A person convicted of an offence under this part shall be liable to a fine not less than Ksh1 million or to imprisonment for a term not less than 10 years or both,” read part of the proposal.
“There has been a surge in corruption cases in the country and one way of dealing with corruption is enhancing the consequences of engaging in such activities. Unless the menace of corruption is dealt with, corruption will continue to hamper the economic development of the county due to loss of public funds,” the bill further stated.
The MP stated that he respected the house's decision claiming he tried his best in assisting in the fight against graft.
He further noted that he had “spent a lot of time drafting the bill to help the president in fighting graft”.
The bill was a bone of contention between the MP and his colleagues in the chambers and on October 5, with ODM chairman John Mbadi attacking DP William Ruto over the bill.
The Suba South MP did not spare the author of the bill as he also went to attack Nyoro over his association with the DP.
"This immature boy accused us of protecting him from the corrupt. Who is corrupt? Is he referring that we are more corrupt than him who goes to Ruto to pick money every day?
"He is picking money from the face of corruption. He has to withdraw that and should stop being stupid," an angry Mbadi lashed out at Nyoro.
