Even before the august house members are inducted on how to carry out their legislative and representation responsibilities, the anti-graft commission has already send signals, indicating there will be no escape route for officials who engage in corruption.
The EACC is requiring the leaders and their households including children aged 18 years and above to make public their wealth. With the country in transition, this applies also to state officers who will be exiting public offices. The exiting government officials will be required to declare their wealth at least 30 days after leaving office. For members of parliament, their wealth declaration forms, should be submitted to the clerks of both houses, to be transmitted to the anti-graft agency by the end of October. With the country in transition, this applies also to state officers who will be exiting public offices. The exiting government officials will be required to declare their wealth at least 30 days after leaving office. For members of parliament, their wealth declaration forms, should be submitted to the clerks of both houses, to be transmitted to the anti-graft agency by the end of October.
While the commission is heightening its surveillance on graft, the 13th parliament is littered with already sworn in leaders with questionable past and active graft cases. Among them is the Sirisia parliamentarian John Waluke, despite being found guilty of fraud and illegal acquisition of public funds through shoddy deals at the national cerials and produce board, NCPB. Waluke was jailed for three months and realized after paying 10 million shillings cash bail. The case remains active. The senate speaker, Amazon Kingi has been under investigation of the EACC, for suspicious payments made to unknown suppliers by Kilifi county government in his tenure as the county governor.
Kimilili parliamentarian Didmus Barasa is a murder suspect in the death of his opponent’s aide in the run up of the general elections. Barasa pleaded not guilty, and was released on a 10 million shillings cash bail, and barred from setting his foot in Bungoma. A petition has been filed in Bungoma court challenging his suitability as an MP. Among others sworn in with graft cases on their necks are the Nakuru senator Tabitha Karanja who is also Keroche Director and Nyaribari Masaba MP Daniel Manduku who earlier served in the Kenya Ports Authority as the managing director.
JACOB MACHESO
