This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
Published on September 20, 2019, at 8:52 PM
Supreme Judge Justice Smokin Wanjala and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua engaged in a heated debate at Kabarak University in Nakuru during the Law School International Conference on Corruption.
The conference, themed 'The war on corruption and the rule of law,' brought together prominent figures to discuss the country's fight against corruption.
Justice Wanjala emphasized the importance of the rule of law and public education in addressing corruption, stating, 'In order to fight corruption, we must embed the rule of law.'
He further highlighted the destructive impact of corruption on Kenyan society, citing the deprivation of basic needs such as good health, food security, and proper healthcare.
Justice Wanjala also called for a total war on graft, stating that the country needs a sophisticated system to combat corruption.
He specifically pointed out the public procurement sector as an area where corruption is rampant, citing the need for a middleman in the purchase of government arsenal as an example of graft.
Justice Wanjala also advocated for spirited campaigns, public education, and sensitization on the effects of corruption, as well as the repossession of public assets acquired through graft.
However, Martha Karua, a former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, criticized the Judiciary for failing to act on high-profile graft cases.
She stated, 'We must be sincere in upholding the rule of law. Sometimes the law is being applied selectively depending on the suspect's social status.'
Ms. Karua also claimed that the Judiciary gives preferential treatment to serious economic crimes, making theft look fashionable.
She added that many high-profile cases come to the Judiciary with great force but are soon forgotten, and that the war on corruption cannot be won solely through prosecution but also requires a change of culture.
Mr. Mwaniki Gachoka, a commissioner with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), acknowledged the challenges faced by the organization in the war on corruption, citing a shortage of investigators and a low budgetary allocation.
