COVID billionaires are protected by those fighting corruption

Deputy President William Ruto says undermining institutions charged with the fight against corruption by restricting their financial autonomy is the biggest impediment in the fight against graft.

Speaking during a Kenya Kwanza meeting with European Union ambassadors, DP Ruto said the same institutions are being used to settle political scores.

“That’s how the COVID-19 billionaires escaped because they were friends of the people who say they want to fight corruption. If the fight against corruption was left to the institutions, the COVID billionaires would be behind bars by now,” He said.

DP Ruto said the Country needs a financially independent Judiciary promising to operationalize the judiciary fund that will give resources to the institution if elected President.

Held a consultative meeting with European Union ambassadors, Karen, Nairobi County. pic.twitter.com/1oBwdvdiuF

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) June 2, 2022

“We believe as Kenya Kwanza that the fight against corruption must be institutionalised and not personalised. It must be a fight against all criminals from all shades. It must not be weaponized against your political opponents and the people you don’t like, while protecting the corrupt who are your political allies, friends or members of your family,” He said.

The Deputy President said institutionalising the fight against corruption is building the capacity of the criminal justice system by addressing the huge deficit of judges and magistrates, to expedite cases backlog,

He said the United Democratic Party has set aside 50pc of its Cabinet positions for women adding that if elected they will focus on realising the two-third gender rule within the first year.

DP Ruto said UDA has the largest number of women candidates in the August election saying out of the 9 Gubernatorial candidates 7 are from the party.