Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has warned that the country might end up electing leaders with criminal character in the coming August 9 General Election.
While addressing bishops and senior clergy of the Anglican church in Nairobi on Tuesday April 19 Matiang’i alleged that there are many persons facing economic crime charges in the long list of aspirants eyeing elective seats in Parliament and county assemblies.
CS Matiang’i revealed that close to 40 per cent of the suspected criminals and their accomplices would successfully be part of the next government once the August polls are set and done.
“If we are not careful as Kenyans, by the time we are done with this electoral cycle, we would’ve laundered criminals into our elective institutions– even up to about 40 per cent,” Matiang’i siad.
“These include money launderers, “wash wash” players, drug dealers and others because they’re the only ones who can access that amount of money.” the CS added
The CS warned that the ongoing war against corruption will be defeated if rogue elements ingrain themselves into the government, According to the CS people with questionable characters will likely back laws that favor the thriving of criminal entities.
The alarm by the CS come as the political parties continue to conduct party primaries where people with ongoing court cases have for instance won nominations in some areas.
“Corrupting the democratic process through unprecedented voter bribery by ‘wash wash’ criminals, tender-preneurers and drug pushers risks commercializing our parliamentary institutions and county assemblies, and poses the greatest threat in the coming general elections,” Matiang’i stated.
For example Jubilee party yesterday clear a suspect in the NYS scandal run for the Embu senatorial seat even when she has not been cleared the courts.
On the hand there are leaders battling cases involving forgery of academic papers but they have got the node of the voters in the ongoing party primaries.
According to Matiang’i, Kenyans need to make careful decision when electing there leaders on August 9 because they will be incharge of formulating policies affecting their lives.
