The analysis argues that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s anti-corruption drive was being constrained by two forces at once: entrenched graft and a civil service that resists change.
The commentator said the system around the President was so compromised that even routine procurement could be distorted. In his view, corruption had become embedded in the machinery of government, making it difficult for the Head of State to act freely.
He also pointed to the culture of the public service, saying officials often resist new methods simply because the bureaucracy has operated the same way for years. He used the example of ordinary office purchases, saying some habits continue whether a new boss is in place or not.
According to the analyst, the bigger problem was the political logic behind Uhuru’s Cabinet. He described the appointments as a form of political settlement, saying the President had to balance coalition interests, tribal considerations and the expectations of allies when choosing Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries.
That, he said, left Uhuru politically constrained whenever he tried to act against corruption. In his assessment, any move against a minister or senior official could quickly be framed as an attack on a particular side of the political divide.
He cited the arrest of Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu as an example, saying it became a NASA issue. He added that when other figures are arrested, the reaction is often that “we are targeting Ruto’s side.”
The analyst concluded that many senior officials in government were political appointees, and that if they were selected through politics, then any removal would also have political consequences. The remarks were made in comments to The Star.
