Raila Odinga's wife accuses Uhuru, Ruto of abetting corruption
Ms Ida Odinga, the wife of ODM leader Raila Odinga, reacts to a surprise birthday song from workers in Kisumu on August 25, 2016 during a leadership meeting. She accused the government of tolerating corruption from the highest to the lowest offices. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ms Odinga said Kenya was reeling under the weight of corruption, insecurity and poverty.
- Ms Odinga was speaking during a workshop on leadership organised by the Impact Kenya Initiative, a governance lobby.
- A survey, released on Tuesday by Africa Centre for Open Governance, also showed that the National Police Service is the most corrupt institution.
Cord leader Raila Odinga’s wife, Ida, has accused President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto of presiding over an increasingly corrupt country.
Ms Odinga said Kenya was reeling under the weight of corruption, insecurity and poverty.
“We are troubled by a high rate of corruption starting from the Office of the President, the Deputy President and the ministries,” she said while speaking in Kisumu on Thursday.
The ODM party leader’s wife said that corruption trickles down from the Office of the President to the traffic police officers on the roads.
Ms Odinga was speaking during a workshop on leadership organised by the Impact Kenya Initiative, a governance lobby.
Addressing the gathering, Ms Odinga challenged leaders to learn leadership skills.
“Leaders are not born but are trained and nurtured,” she said.
“It is unfortunate that in this country people who do not understand what leadership is are appointed, nominated or elected to positions of leadership,” she said.
Ms Odinga also advised national leaders to listen to the people.
“Nobody is a Mr Perfect. You must be ready to listen to others so that you manage your leadership effectively,” she said.
She challenged those in leadership positions to address insecurity and the widespread poverty afflicting Kenyan villages.
A new poll released on Tuesday by research firm Infotrak, showed Kenyans think that Deputy President William Ruto’s office has a higher corruption prevalence rate compared to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s.
Fifty-one per cent of Kenyans surveyed believed corruption is rampant at Harambee House as compared to 46.4 per cent who think corruption is high in the Office of the President.
The survey, released on Tuesday by Africa Centre for Open Governance, also showed that the National Police Service is the most corrupt institution.
The poll conducted nationwide in all the former eight provinces between May 31 and June 8, 2016, also shows corruption is perceived to be extremely prevalent in the counties.
Seventy-eight per cent of respondents indicated that corruption is practiced sometimes or always in the County executive, while 77 per cent said it is prevalent in the county assembly.
National government ministries follow closely with 73.4 per cent, while 72.1 per cent of Kenyans feel that corruption is prevalent in the Judiciary.
(Editing by Joel Muinde)
