•Lobbyist asks Parliament to initiate the process of changing Kenya’s currency and strengthen the legal framework to tackle corruption
•The war on graft will receive a major boost if the government targets money hidden in homes and that stashed abroad by prominent people
Civil society lobbyists have asked the government to abolish the Sh1,000 and Sh500 currency notes to boost the war on graft.
Kipkorir Ngetich from the Center for Human Rights and Democracy (CHRD) says many people had stolen money and hidden it outside the banks.
Should the big denomination notes be changed, those hiding them will be caught when they take them to the banks for the new currency, Ngetich said.
He asked Parliament to initiate the process of changing the country’s currency and strengthen the legal framework to tackle corruption.
“There are so many people who have stolen billions of shillings and stashed the money under beds, in holes, bunkers and other areas. Much of the stolen money is in Sh1,000 and Sh500 notes," Ngetich said after a meeting of civil society groups in Eldoret yesterday.
He said the war on graft will get a major boost if the government targets money hidden in homes and that stashed abroad by the corrupt.
He commended President Uhuru Kenyatta for giving the best ever political support to independent institutions fighting graft. But suspects were using the stolen money to frustrate investigations.
Other NGOs' representatives - Nick Kibet and Pauline Chebiwot - said civil society groups fully supported the renewed efforts to fight graft.
DP WILLIAM RUTO
“As Kenyans we must support efforts by the President and the independent institutions because it's only through such that we will salvage our country from politics,” Ngetich said.
He said those criticising the President over the war on graft were themselves suspects and feared being caught.
Allies of Deputy President William Ruto have accused the President of fighting Ruto using investigating agencies.
“Surely for any sensible Kenyan who values our motherland, it's immoral to oppose the war on graft. You can only oppose if you know very well that you are involved in looting the coffers of our country,” Ngetich said.
The NGO representatives told off Kalenjin leaders claiming that Uhuru was targeting the community in the war on graft.
“They should carry their own cross and stop dragging the entire community into their own bad behaviour."
Kibet and Chebiwott asked them to respect the President, who was not elected to serve the interests of a particular community.