Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi has urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to counter efforts by political allies of Deputy President William Ruto to undermine anti-corruption investigations. The opposition leader accused Ruto-aligned politicians of attempting to pressure Kenyatta into weakening his administration's crackdown on graft, particularly regarding multibillion-shilling dam construction scandals.
Mudavadi alleged that these actors aim to portray Kenyatta as a 'lame-duck president' by creating a climate of intimidation. 'This is a tactic used by those accustomed to impunity to silence the president and slow the war on corruption,' he stated during a speech at Mombasa's Royal Court Hotel. The ANC leader emphasized that Kenyatta must decisively address the issue to prevent further interference.
The remarks followed public criticisms from two Jubilee Party MPs, Kimilili's Didmus Barasa and Kapseret's Oscar Sudi, who accused Kenyatta and Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti of targeting Deputy President Ruto's presidential campaign through corruption probes. Barasa and Sudi claimed the anti-graft drive was politically motivated, alleging it sought to weaken Ruto's influence ahead of the 2022 elections.
Mudavadi questioned the urgency of those opposing the investigations, asking, 'Why would someone panic and intimidate agencies if they are not involved?' He highlighted the March 3, 2019, incident where the MPs' statements were made, framing the conflict as part of a broader struggle over accountability in Kenyan politics.
