In a bold statement, Eldoret-based human rights activist Kipkorir Ngetich has called on President William Ruto to urgently intervene in what appears to be a rising wave of corruption among governors in six counties in the Rift Valley region. The counties under scrutiny include Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, and West Pokot, where public officials are being accused of illicitly accumulating wealth within a short period.
Ngetich expressed his concern about the alarming trend of corruption, citing that the governors, along with their speakers and chief finance officers, have become conspicuously wealthy, with properties such as mansions, large parcels of land, and businesses suspected to have been acquired through fraudulent means.
“The region has witnessed a significant stabilization of the Kenyan shilling against the dollar, and we acknowledge the government's dedication to national development. However, the county governments in the Rift Valley seem to be undermining these efforts by engaging in corrupt activities instead of complementing national projects,” Ngetich said in his statement.
The activist highlighted that despite the tireless efforts of the national government to complete infrastructure and development projects in these counties, there is a growing disconnect, with local county governments being accused of hindering progress and focusing instead on illicit enrichment.
“There is widespread frustration among the citizens of these counties. Many have expressed their displeasure with the leadership, which is largely driven by corruption at the county level. This frustration is wrongly being directed at the national government, which is working hard to improve service delivery,” Ngetich added.
He emphasized the need for urgent action by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate the financial dealings of the county officials in question. Ngetich stated that the ongoing corruption has undermined the good work being carried out by the President and is tarnishing his reputation in the region.
“The residents of these counties are calling on the President to intervene immediately. They are asking for investigations into the governors, their chief finance officers, procurement officers, revenue officers, contractors, and suppliers involved in these questionable dealings. The people are crying for accountability,” Ngetich said.
The activist also mentioned that there are allegations of a network of individuals working to frustrate investigations, further complicating efforts to hold the corrupt officials accountable.
“Despite President Ruto being from the Rift Valley, it seems that certain local officials, who were elected on UDA tickets, have taken advantage of their positions to amass illegal wealth. This must not continue. The President’s efforts in fighting corruption must not be overshadowed by local greed,” Ngetich emphasized.
He warned that failure to act could lead to worsening public distrust in the government and a further deterioration of the social and economic conditions in the region. The activist called for an audit of the governors, county officials, contractors, and suppliers to ensure that corruption does not continue to go unchecked.
“Time has come for the President to take a strong stand and hold these governors accountable. The people of Rift Valley deserve better leadership that prioritizes service delivery over personal gain,” Ngetich concluded.
With growing unrest and calls for action, it remains to be seen how the President and relevant authorities will respond to the mounting pressure to address corruption in the Rift Valley counties.
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