Joining the leaders’ call to avoid politicising the war on corruption, Ruto asked the Opposition to build a formidable, national party that would compete with Jubilee on issues and development/DPPS
ISIOLO, Kenya, Apr 5 – More than 30 Members of Parliament have endorsed Thursday’s State of the Nation address, saying it had set the record straight in the fight against corruption.
They said President Uhuru Kenyatta’s statement would bring an end to political witch-hunt propagated by the Opposition.
“The country had grown weary of politics in funerals. They had also become sick of propaganda against other leaders. As leaders, we must engage in sober politics that will make our country better,” said Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.
She said the Opposition had been abusing the handshake between President Kenyatta and Opposition chief Raila Odinga to create division in the government with the hope of making Jubilee appear a failure in the eyes of Kenyans.
“We cannot move forward as a country when some leaders plot to bring others down. Our unity is a key ingredient in ensuring that the Big Four agenda is realised,” she added.
The Isiolo Senator spoke on Friday during a meeting with members of the public in Isiolo South Constituency in the company of Deputy President Willian Ruto and Governors Abdi Kuti (Isiolo) and Mutahi Kahiga (Nyeri).
MPs present were Ali Rasso (Saku), Hassan Oda Hulufo (Isiolo North), Abdi Koropu Tepo (Isiolo South), Qalicha Gufu (Moyale), Omar, Maalim (Mandera East), Musa Arbelle (Laisamis), Abdikarim Osman (Fafi), Bashir Abdullahi (Mandera North), Ibrahim Abdi Mude (Lafey), Adan Haji Ali (Mandera South) and Mugambi Rindiki (Buuri).
Others were Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Halima Mucheke (nominated), Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), James Wamacukuru (Kabete), Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Charity Gathambi (Njoro), Janet Sitienei (Turbo), Ahmed Kolosh (Wajir East) and Alice Wahome (Kandara).
Also in the meeting were Woman Representatives Rehema Jaldesa (Isiolo), Catherine Waruguru (Laikipia), Florence Bore (Kericho), Tecla Tum (Nandi), Sofia Abdinoor(Marsabit) and Beatrice Nkatha (Tharaka Nithi).
Rasso lauded President Kenyatta for sticking with the rule of law.
He said fighting corruption in Kenya had been hampered by petty politics that would not give institutions charged with that duty to work independently.
“If you are not a witness, a prosecutor or an investigator, why lament perennially about corruption? Posed Rasso.
Observing that the 2013 Jubilee journey would continue beyond 2022 “and it will not end there”, Hulufo said the Deputy President has proved to be a friend of the development of Kenya.
He said even with propaganda against Dr Ruto, Kenyans would rally behind him in 2022.
“No one supports the misuse of public resources in this country because such a practice takes us back. But you cannot use fake corruption claims to fight your rivals,” said the Isiolo North MP.
Barasa said corruption will be fought by independent institutions charged with anti-corruption and not through media propaganda by politicians.
“Malicious undertones that have no basis will not help us check this problem,” he said.
Waruguru supported her Kimilili counterpart, arguing that evidence and facts would help tame the vice.
She said they were aware of the schemes by the Opposition to infiltrate Jubilee government by coming up with propaganda against leaders in office with an aim of creating a power vacuum.
“Unfortunately to them, politics is now over following the pronouncement by the president on how the war on corruption will be fought. Now, our energies are on the Big Four,” she added.
But even as the focus shifts to ensuring success in the implementation of the Big Four, Kikuyu MP warned Jubilee to be cautious of its friends, some of whom having the history of destroying the development and unity fabric.
What business does the Opposition Leader Raila Odinga still conducting in the government, if he is not after derailing it’s development agenda?” Wondered Ms Wahome.
The Nyeri and Isiolo Governors lauded the cordial working relationship between the national and county governments but said there was more room to deepen the ties if careless political undertones by leaders are checked.
Joining the leaders’ call to avoid politicising the war on corruption, Ruto asked the Opposition to build a formidable, national party that would compete with Jubilee on issues and development.
“Let them build a national party and avoid tribal politics so that we can compete to make Kenya better,” he said.
The Deputy President said Jubilee should avoid being fixed in the Opposition trap “that we have not done anything for Kenyans”.
“We have a track record of what we have done as Jubilee. Do not give us a lecture of propaganda because we know where we are taking this country,” he explained.
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