By Nancy Agutu
Kenyans are experts at stealing and hurling insults, the Kenyan President has said, adding they perpetuate hatred despite being in a good country.
Uhuru Kenyatta further said his people are doing little to stop corruption in the government and the private sector.
“Sisi kama wakenya Mungu ametupatia nchi ambayo ni nzuri mara ishirini kuliko hii tuko hapa,” he told Kenyans living in Israel on Wednesday evening.
“Lakini tukitembea ni kulia, ni kuiba… tuko na ujuzi pia ya kuiba, ya kutukanana, ya kufanya mambo mengine maovu na kuleta ukabila”.
This translates to: “God has given Kenyans a country that is 20 times better than the one we are in right now. But there is crying, theft… we are experts at stealing, abusing each other, doing other evils and perpetuating tribalism.”
He asked the public to learn from Kenya’s friends, and transform the country in a process that he said would not take much time.
The President’s remarks follow several cases of corruption that members of the public have continually complained about.
Key among them are the Sh250 billion Eurobond scandal, claims that the Kenya Defence Forces trades in contraband sugar and charcoal and the Sh791 milion National Youth Service scandal.
In January 2016, Cord leader Raila Odinga named ” persons of interest” amid a probe into how the Eurobond money was spent.
Raila, who has insisted Sh140 billion of the fund is missing, named Treasury CS Henry Rotich, Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua, Treasury PS Kamau Thugge and former CBK Governor Njuguna Ndung’u.
Others in the list were Central Bank chairman Jairus Nyaoga and Accountant General Bernard Ndung’u.
The unfolding NYS scam has seen former Devolution CS Anne Waiguru place mega rip-offs at DP Ruto’s doorstep, amid claims his brother was among influential personalities who pursued the deals.
She also dragged Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale into the mess. Murkomen and Duale have denied the allegations.
Cases of inciting members of the public to violence have also rocked the country, and seen politicians including ODM Nairobi chairman George Aladwa and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria face charges. The Star (Kenya)
