By Sefu Sabila
Worth Noting:
- President William Ruto has condemned corruption as a derail in the achievement of the transformation agenda through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, saying among wastage, misappropriation, corruption is a greater threat to his agenda.
- “I have given my assurance given my assurance to the people of Kenya that cases of misconduct and corruption shall be dealt with ruthlessly, expeditiously and with finality. ” President Ruto affirmed during his State of the nation address in November 2023.
- In defending his administration on the foreign trips that the controller of budget had faulted as there was corruption budget and waste on trips by both Parliament and the cabinet.
As the country’s struggle to fight against corruption remain an issue at hand, President William Ruto always assures Kenyans on his efforts to fight corruption by his administration. In November 2023, the state of the nation address, the president had vowed to deal with corruption and misconduct.
However, the situation remains dire, according to a report released by the Kenya Data and Statistics on Tuesday, Kenya has been ranked position 25 based on corruption perception index at 32. According to the report, countries with less corruption cases have a higher Growth Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita.
Last year, report by the National Security on the state of corruption in Kenya showed cases of corruption in the country increased by 64% as compared to the previous year, in the same period between January 1st and 31, August.
President William Ruto has condemned corruption as a derail in the achievement of the transformation agenda through the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, saying among wastage, misappropriation, corruption is a greater threat to his agenda.
“I have given my assurance given my assurance to the people of Kenya that cases of misconduct and corruption shall be dealt with ruthlessly, expeditiously and with finality. ” President Ruto affirmed during his State of the nation address in November 2023.
In defending his administration on the foreign trips that the controller of budget had faulted as there was corruption budget and waste on trips by both Parliament and the cabinet.
The president on his address of the new year stated that the country had made strides by evident by the growing GDP of 5.4%, and the while the country ranked as the 29th fastest growing economy globally. The president further announced that the country’s tax revenue had increases to Kshs 600 billion, that has enabled the government to fund it’s program and development projects in the country.
“We take pride in the strides we have made as a nation. We have triumphed over the threat of economic stagnation and are now in secure space with regard to our sovereign debt obligations. Inflation has reduced to 6.8% and our GDP is growing at the rate of 5.4%, placing Kenya as the 29th fastest growing economy globally.” President William Ruto stated.
However, the However, the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), while submitting its report for the financial year 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 before the National Assembly’s Budget and Appropriations Committee, called for a review of the taxation scheme, warning that both the national and county governments will experience inadequate funding as a result of KRA failing to meet its foreseen target.
“All taxes from June 2023 went down, we have missed our revenue quarterly taxes already by about Ksh.70 billion. We need a conversation about the tax level collection.” Lineth Oyugi, Director of Economic Affairs at CRA, said.
In December, former Cabinet Secretary of Treasury Henry Rotich and 9 others were acquitted of corruption charges on Kimwarer and Arror Dams in Elgeyo Marakwet county amounting to Kshs 67million by the directorate of criminal charges. These among the many corruption cases dropped in 2023, due to lack of substantial evidence by the state.
In the report by Kenya Data and Statistics, Rwanda is among the top 5 countries leading in corruption index at 51, while Uganda (26), Tanzania (38), Burundi (17), South Sudan (13), Djibouti (30) and Sudan (22) while Somali had the least corrupt at 12 in Africa.
Mt Kenya Times