President Uhuru Kenyatta has responded to mounting pressure for him to sack Cabinet Secretaries implicated in corruption.
Speaking during his 2019 State of The Nation Address in a joint sitting of the bicameral Parliament on Thursday, Uhuru showed that he was aware of the mood in the country.
He, however, stated that he would not rely on media condemnation and public opinions to fire State officials.
"Honourable members I must say that I have been under pressure that, who am I sacking?" he started, amid giggles and murmurs from excited MPs.
"The pursuit of the corrupt will be undertaken strictly within the limits of the law. It will not be done through vigilante justice and pitch fork protests.
Speaking about giving those implicated in graft a chance to defend themselves, Uhuru argued that his government would not seek justice in one area through injustice in another.
President Kenyatta affirmed that "I undertake to act and remove from the government any individual who will have a case to answer before a court.”
He expressed his confidence that the investigative authorities would carry out their mandate efficiently and effectively.
“There will be no turning back in the war against corruption and impunity. There will be no sacred cows, no compromise. The fight against corruption is a fight for the soul of our nation,” the president reiterated.
He noted that for the first time in the history of a sitting president, eight CSs and eight PSs had stepped aside to give way for investigations and prosecution.
“Seven current and former Governors and over thirty Chief Executive Officers of State Corporations are under active investigation or prosecution for various corruption-related offenses,” Uhuru told the country.
