Africans Rising Calls for Kenya’s President & Judiciary to Act on Graft Cases

Nairobi, November 11th, 2018:  Africans Rising is now calling for the President and the Judiciary to act decisively on all state officials implicated in corruption cases. The movement that champions people’s rights to peace, social inclusion, justice and shared prosperity says that the current fight against corruption is not real and must be supported by stringent measures and convictions. According to Africans Rising ambassador and activist, Boniface Mwangi, all public officials occupying state jobs and have been implicated in graft cases must step aside to allow investigations to take place.

“It is a national embarrassment to have state and public officials adversely mentioned in corruption cases continuing to occupy public office. We are calling upon the President and the Judiciary to ensure that everyone mentioned in the theft of public resources steps aside until the conclusion of their cases”, noted Boniface Mwangi. The cases should be expedited and handled swiftly to minimise witness tampering, intimidation, and concealment of the stolen assets.

On June 1st, 2018, the president ordered all government procurement officials and accountants to undergo a polygraph test. The country does not know if the tests took place or what the results were. The polygraph tests and promised lifestyle audits should be made public.

Boniface added, “while we commend the government for the few prosecutions taking place on corruption-related cases, recovery of stolen funds should be prioritised.” The government must incentivise the war against corruption by encouraging Kenyans to share information that leads to recovery of stolen funds and they can be rewarded a percentage of funds recovered. On his part, Ezra Mbogori, Co-Chair, Africans Rising, noted: “We need to liberate our people from oppression one case after another. We must end social injustices and impunity in this country. We have laws that govern the country and its people, and if those same laws are not adhered to, then the citizens will suffer.

Boniface mentioned in his address to the media that the Kenyan government has recently raised taxes on basic commodities NOT because Kenyans don’t pay enough their dues but because the public money has been embezzled in corrupt moves by the country’s leaders. “We have proof that we have been losing hundreds of billions of Kenyan Shillings annually due to corruption. There has been a lot of arrestations and accusations against politicians and business leaders over the last six months but those arrested are merely 2% of the people who were mentioned in the auditor’s generals report.” He stated.

In most instances, none of the officeholders who have been arraigned in court have resigned or stepped aside. The Kenyan government continues to disclose cases of corruption to the public, many of which are cases of embezzlement across different Kenyan ministries. Kenyans are demanding a just action to hold the accused accountable. The accused government officials continue to occupy public office, a good example is the case of Civil Servants who approved buildings in riparian areas of which the government has embarked of demolishing BUT the official are yet to be charged in a court of law. In the Kenyan judiciary, Magistrates and Judges who collude with criminals are still in office!

If President Uhuru Kenyatta feels that the existing systems are inadequate in the war against corruption, his party has the majority in parliament and the senate and he has the ability to amend any laws to strengthen the fight against corruption. Impunity is killing the spirit of the Kenyan people, we each know the potential of this tremendous nation but we keep witnessing systematic sabotage of such potential.

AFRICANS RISING HEREBY MAKES THE FOLLOWING DEMANDS:

1. Anyone occupying a public office and who has been charged with corruption or is under investigation must step aside until their guilt or innocence has been established.
2. On the 1st of  June 2018, the president ordered all government procurement officials and accountants to undergo a polygraph test. The people do not know if the tests took place nor do have seen a public report of the results. The polygraph tests and promised lifestyle audits must
3.  be made public.
4. Every elected person and individual working in senior government positions must submit a self-ascertained declaration of wealth including President Uhuru Kenyatta.
5. The courts should restrict individuals adversely mentioned in corruption from accessing their bank accounts or to transfer/sell properties to other entities.
6. The recovery of stolen funds should be prioritised the fight to end corruption.
7. The government must intensify the war against corruption by setting up efficient and safe whistle-blowing structures and encouraging Kenyans to share information that leads to recovery of stolen funds.
8. The president must form and equip a team of anti-corruption investigators and prosecutors who are independent of executive and political interference.
9. Law reform to allow corruption and economic crimes to be heard at the High Court by specialist judges. Such cases should be expedited and handled swiftly to minimise witness tampering, intimidation, and concealment.

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