President William Ruto urged Renson Mulele Ingonga, the newly sworn-in Director of Public Investigations (DPP), on Monday to confront graft head-on, without fear or favor.
Ruto was speaking at the State House in Nairobi, where the DPP took the oath of office, and emphasized the importance of accountability at all levels and arms of government.
“You come at a time when there is a demand for accountability across those entrusted with public office at all levels of government within all our arms of government,” President Ruto said.
According to the Head of State, corruption remains one of the most difficult challenges confronting public offices in Kenya, and it is a barrier to the realization of the country’s shared aspirations.
“Corruption is one of the challenges facing Kenya today because it is a significant barrier to the realization of our shared aspirations as a nation,” President Ruto said.
“Corruption breeds inequity and leads to the loss of property and public resources.”
At the same time, President Ruto warned DPP Ingonga against politicizing the war on graft, claiming that the former regime used the prosecutor’s office to wage and settle political battles over issues that had nothing to do with graft.
“As a prosecutor you are aware some cases were concocted in order to settle political scores and had nothing to do with corruption,” he added.
“I hope under your tenure the war on graft will not be used to settle scores or blackmail people to abandon their rights and principles.”
The president also revisited his ‘Mambo ni Matatu’ phrase, saying that the newly sworn DPP has an active role to play
“As you have heard, mambo ni matatu and you know one of them, it up to you to discharge.. you have a duty to ensure that the property of the people of Kenya is not abused or stolen,”
Ingonga who was serving as the assistant DPP prior to his appointment, takes over from Noordin Haji who has since taken over as Director-General of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
