DPP Noordin Haji Forced to Release List of Kenyans Accused of Corruption Based on Tribes

After accusations of profiling certain communities in the war against corruption, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has released statistics to prove otherwise.

To prove politicians accusing him of targeting certain tribes wrong, Haji has unveiled a list of Kenyans facing corruption charges based on their ethnicity.

Leaders, especially those allied to Deputy President William Ruto have been accusing the Chief Prosecutor of targeting members of the Kalenjin community in his anti-graft purge.

Appearing on Citizen TV, Haji has made public the list of people who have been charged with corruption since he assumed office in April 2018.

In the 415-man list, the Kikuyu community has the majority with 141 suspects.

The Luo community has the second highest number of those facing graft accusations with 56 followed by Kalenjins (46), Kisiis (37) Mijikendas/Swahilis (34), Kambas (31), and Luhyas with 29.

Others tribes with corruption suspects and indictees include Somali, Indian and Embu with 16, 15 and five, respectively.

Turkana, Maasai, and Samburu communities have the least number of graft suspects with, three two, and one respectively.

“You are a criminal no matter your tribe; what you have done is steal from Kenyans and you must face the law. It is sad that we are trying to politicize and tribalize (sic) the whole issue here,” says Haji during an interview with Citizen TV's Jeff Koinange.

Ruto, together with his allies Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi among others, recently accused the DPP of politicizing and ethnicizing the war on graft. 

“I am surprised, this is why I came with this file because I do not want it to look like it’s coming from my head, this is our statistics of accused persons by ethnic tribe….So who am I targeting with all these? I don’t know,” says Haji.

Haji says those who embezzled taxpayers' cash must carry their own crosses and stop dragging communities into the cases.

“We are not just going to charge you then probably get a sentence, put you in jail and go back to enjoy your proceeds of crime 10 years later. What we are doing now is following the money,” says Haji.