Ex-CJ links Ruto to corruption

Former Kenyan Chief Justice David Maraga has accused President William Ruto of lacking the moral authority to accuse MPs of corruption while facing integrity questions himself. According to the Kenyan Star, in a strongly-worded statement, Maraga argued that Ruto should not lecture Parliament on corruption when questions remain about his own alleged involvement in scandals. ‘The Kenyan people deserve a full accounting of where their money has gone and who has pocketed it,’ he said, accusing the President of ignoring key accountability questions. The retired CJ went further, alleging that Ruto has previously bribed Members of Parliament to advance political goals – including the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. He added that lawmakers themselves had made public claims of receiving inducements. Maraga also questioned the source of the billions of shillings being handed out as ‘empowerment funds’ in schools, markets and churches, noting that such allocations are absent from the national budget. To redeem his image, Maraga urged the President to disclose the official budget line funding these projects and order investigations into alleged mismanagement of eCitizen funds, ghost schools and unexplained government renovations. Maraga’s remarks followed a recent speech by Ruto in which he accused some MPs of receiving bribes to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill. He also claimed that Senate proceedings had turned into a ‘marketplace’, with governors allegedly paying millions to avoid impeachment. ‘We are not going to shame them. We are going to arrest them. Whoever is giving and whoever is being given, we are going to sort them out,’ the President said. Maraga’s criticism adds new weight to the national debate on corruption, with Kenyans demanding more transparency from both Parliament and the Presidency.

Full report in the Kenyan Star