President William Ruto on Thursday fired a warning to investigative agencies including the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for dragging cases of graft in courts of law.
While giving the State of the Nation Address at the National Assembly, the president faulted the agencies for failing to prosecute graft suspects. He further pointed an accusatory finger at the Judiciary for not concluding graft cases fast enough.
The Head of State highlighted that anti-graft measures “will only achieve intended results if and only if institutions charged with integrity stop hiding the transparent screen of independence and rise up to meet people’s expectations on matters of integrity.”
He questioned how the prosecution agencies keep on dropping cases because it cannot avail witnesses or produce sufficient evidence on graft and corruption cases.
“It cannot be the case that the director of public prosecutions keeps dropping cases because somehow they are unable to produce witnesses. It also cannot be the case that corruption suspects rush to court to obtain anticipatory bail that shields them from due process and enables them to compromise investigations,” President Ruto stated fingering the Judiciary for offering anticipatory bails that cripple the investigations processes for graft suspects.
“There is also no reason for corruption cases to drag in our courts for years when the same courts are able to determine election petitions and related disputes within six months,” he added.
Ruto also urged the lawmakers to facilitate the passing of the Conflict-of-Interest Bill which he said has dragged on in Parliament for long.
“It is also unacceptable for the Houses of Parliament to deny the nation a much-needed instrument in the war on corruption by continuing to sabotage the passage of the Conflict-of-Interest Bill. I implore you, Honourable members, to stop dragging your feet on this bill, unless, my friends, there is a conflict of interest, in the passing of the conflict-of-interest legislation,” he stated.
Ruto noted that the National Treasury has been dragging its feet in the implementation of an e-procurement system for nearly 10 years. In effect, directed the Treasury to roll out the e-procurement system in a bid to fight graft in the government.
“Today, I direct the National Treasury to roll out the e-procurement system by the end of the first quarter of 2025, and ensure that, going forward, only procurement undertaken through this system is sanctioned.”
It comes barely a few months after high-profile graft cases have been dropped sparking public scrutiny over investigation agencies.
On October 4, DPP withdrew a multi-million graft case involving 10 individuals including a chief executive officer (CEO) of a water works development agency before the Kitui Anti-Corruption Court. By
