Arrest of More Senior Gov't Officials Coming, President Kenyatta Declares
President Kenyatta has hailed the arrest of senior state officials implicated in graft scandals, assuring that more arrests are coming.
Speaking during the 55th Madaraka Day Celebrations at Kinoru Stadium on Friday, the Head of State maintained that his administration will not spare looters of public funds.
“I am glad that arrests of senior officials have been made. There are more on the way. I want officials, particularly senior ones, who are directly implicated in corruption to have no place in my administration and for them to go to jail,” said President Kenyatta.
He also called on the Judiciary to help in the war on graft by “ensuring that the frivolous and obstructive use of the court system to avoid responsibility will not be allowed.”
“The DPP, the Police, and other institutions in the multi-agency team against corruption are new and on the move. They are making decisive steps to build strong cases for the prosecution of corrupt officials and their work will bear fruit when the Judiciary responds by ensuring that the frivolous and obstructive use of the court system to avoid responsibility will not be allowed,” he added.
President Kenyatta further said that Kenyans must also play a role in taming the vice that has dogged Kenya for decades.
“Your resolve to withdraw respect and deny and honour to those guilty will be the most powerful blow to preventing this vice. We must have a more honest country to protect our liberty and be able to use it to build a glittering African nation,” said President Kenyatta.
His sentiments follow the arrests of 39 suspects linked to the Sh9 billion scandal at the National Youth Service (NYS).
Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Lilian Omollo and NYS Director-General Richard Ndubai are among those arrested earlier this week are currently behind bars awaiting bail ruling set for Tuesday.
The suspects were charged before Nairobi Magistrate court on Tuesday, but pleaded not guilty to charges levelled against them.