UK Civil Society Urges Ruto to Empower Institutions in War on Corruption
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Justice and Equity, a UK-based civil society organization, has called on President William Ruto to strengthen existing independent institutions mandated to fight corruption instead of creating new agencies.
In a detailed press statement, the group criticized the President’s recent move to form a multi-agency team to tackle corruption, terming it a waste of public funds. They urged the Head of State to focus on adequately resourcing and supporting established institutions to deliver on their mandates.
Sebastian Onyango, the council’s chairperson, emphasized the need to safeguard existing constitutional bodies and allow them to operate independently.
“The President should stop creating unnecessary organs and instead ensure that existing constitutional bodies are allowed to function effectively and independently,” said Onyango.
Echoing the sentiments, the society’s secretary, Janet Sutton, urged the government to suspend all senior officials facing corruption charges. She also called on the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament to invite the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate corruption allegations among parliamentarians following President Ruto’s claims.
“If such claims are proven untrue, Parliament must initiate impeachment proceedings against the President for spreading lies and despondency among the population,” Sutton warned.
Additionally, the group issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, to prosecute all corrupt government officials. Failure to act, they said, would force them to petition for his removal from office.
Two weeks ago, during a joint parliamentary meeting at State House, President Ruto vowed to institute criminal proceedings against Members of the National Assembly and the Senate whom he accused of turning the Houses into centers of political business.
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