The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission spent the better part of Wednesday interrogating former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya on the use of funds while he was in office.
The arrest came a few days after President William Ruto read the riot act to sitting governors and warned them to carry their own cross should they engage in corruption.
Oparanya is ODM’s deputy leader and has stood by his party leader Raila Odinga even during demonstrations. While it’s a welcome move for EACC to act on alleged corruption cases, one hopes that it’s not a case of political which-hunt of the opposition leader.
The fight against corruption needs to be objective and sustained with clear evidence that can pass muster in court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions should ensure those facing graft charges are given a fair trial and, if found guilty, all corruption proceeds are handed back to the state.
Being convicted of a crime can have serious, sometimes devastating, consequences for the convicted person, their family and wider community. Therefore, the state should prove that it is necessary to bring a prosecution and prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Quote of the Day: “Nothing is built on stone; all is built on sand, but we must build as if the sand were stone.”
Jorge Luis Borges
The Argentine writer was born on August 24, 1899.
