President William Ruto has warned senior government officials “across all ranks” that they will be held personally responsible for corruption within their departments.
In the warning, which follows up his verbal proclamations at a cabinet meeting last week, Ruto put it on record that he will not condone even a whiff of corruption.
The communication was issued on Tuesday, May 23 by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei to all Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, chairpersons of state corporations, and CEOs of state corporations.
He reminded them that they are all exercising executive powers delegated to them by the President, and their principal was now dropping them.
“Consequently, you are personally responsible for any breach of the legal and policy provisions governing the exercise of your powers in the use of public resources,” Koskei wrote.
The warning came in the wake of the firing of the first Kenya Kwanza presidential appointee, former PS Josephine Mburu over the Kemsa mosquito nets scam.
It also came on the day another PS – Esther Ngero- made history as the first in this administration to be sacked days after being transferred from the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s office to Correctional Services Department under the Interior Ministry.
The official explanation accorded for Ngero’s exit was “personal reasons.”
Reports have since emerged of a fierce fight for control of accounting roles in ministries.
There have been claims that some senior government officials are using their position to pile pressure on accounting officers to give them favors.
“In line with the President’s proclamation, it is hereby reiterated that those responsible for the management of public resources will be held personally accountable for any loss or misuse of public resources,” reads part of the circular.
He directed all ministries and departments to take necessary measures to prevent corruption through anti-corruption measures.
“The President as the premier defender of the constitution has delegated some of his executive powers to your respective offices. Consequently, you are personally responsible for any breach of the legal and policy provisions governing the exercise of your powers in the use of public resources,” the letter adds.
The President, Koskei said, expects unwavering loyalty to the constitution and the people.
“Against the backdrop of these corruption cases, the president has issued a proclamation on the fight against corruption in which he categorically states that he will not tolerate corruption at any level of government and has committed himself to personally lead the fight against this vice,” the circular stated.
Only last week, Ruto triggered a major shakeup at key state agencies including Kemsa, Kenya Revenue Authority, and the Kenya Bureau of Standards over corruption.
Already top government officials involved in the condemned sugar scam have been arraigned.
