Deputy President William Ruto on Thursday, July 1, cautioned that the war on graft was being politicised and this would dent the fight against corruption. Ruto lamented that authorities were being used to settle political scores.
The DP was speaking to his allies at an event in his Karen, Nairobi home. Among the leaders that were present for the event were MPs Kimani Ichun’gwa (Kikuyu) Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika.
His remarks came a day after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers concluded investigations in a case where Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua was accused of money laundering.
“We will only succeed in the fight against corruption when we avoid the weaponization and criminalization of politics and using the criminal justice system to blackmail and intimidate people on matters to do with politics," Ruto castigated the investigative agencies.
"We want to tell them to leave the criminal justice system out of the politics of Kenya. Kenyans can decide which ideas are good and which ones are better," Ruto added.
Kihika maintained that most of the graft cases handled by DCI boss George Kinoti have never been concluded. The suspects, she added, have never pleaded or found guilty.
Her confidant, Kimani Ichungwa, claimed that the purported war on graft was meant to instil fear among the political elite so that they align with a certain faction.
A section of politicians has shifted camp from President Uhuru Kenyatta's camp to Ruto's with the latest being former Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura and Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba.
Kandara MP Alice Wahome told Wamuchomba to be ready to face the DCI, EACC, KRA, among others following her defection to UDA. Wahome alleged that the Woman Representative will be harassed and frustrated over her loyalty to Ruto.
“The politically instigated cases will surface and labelled against you, but stay firm in your political stand,” Wahome advised.
