Roundup:Kenya declares graft a national security threat

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday declared corruption a national security threat and called for concerted efforts from Kenyans and organizations to help eliminate the vice.

In his address to the nation, Kenyatta urged all relevant government agencies, including the private sector as well as all Kenyans to "rally around the path of transformation", and ordered companies to sign approved code of conduct to transact business with government.

"This is the day that we as Kenyans are turning a new leaf in the war against corruption. Indeed as has been said before, this is not a battle that can be won by any singular individual or any singular sector -- it must be multifaceted in how we approach it," he said.

The Kenyan leader also urged religious leaders to "declare corruption a sin against God and humanity" and help fight corruption on their front as he opened a new chapter in the war against corruption where every individual and organization has been brought on board.

He said that any business that fails to comply with the Code will be disqualified from doing business with government for a period not less than five years and the information will be made public.

The president said disqualification will not only apply to the business entity but also to its directors. He termed corruption as a "standing threat to our national security", and welcomed the concerted efforts by all sectors in the society to tackle the vice.

He also said banks that break Kenya's anti-money laundering rules will lose their licenses. "From today, we have agreed that those banks that break our anti-money laundering laws and regulations will at a minimum lose their banking license."

Kenyatta spoke after receiving a special report on anti-graft measures and a proposed Anti-Bribery Bill prepared by the private sector.

The special report was presented to the President by National Treasury Henry Rotich while the proposed Anti-Bribery Bill was handed over by Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) Chairman Dennis Awori.

"I think today marks a new beginning. I want to begin by first thanking the private sector, who have worked in conjunction with the government to come up with various recommendations and I give them my assurance that my government will implement those recommendations to the letter," he said.

Kenyattta said the spy agency, the National Intelligence Service, should pursue information and intelligence on the corruption and bring it to his attention, and to the attention of the relevant investigating and prosecution bodies.

"Indeed it is my hope that as a result of that bold collaboration we should be able to see very clearly results coming out and cases being successfully prosecuted and those who have committed crimes being held to account in accordance with our desire as a people and as a nation," he said.

He made it clear that the private sector must play their role in the war graft, saying 70 percent of corruption in the country is in the procurement departments which do business with the private sector.

The president outlined a raft of measures that both the government and the private sector will take to starve corruption and consign it to oblivion, saying the media also have a role in combating the vice.

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga the Judiciary will set up special courts to expeditiously deal with cases on corruption and related crimes, saying magistrates and judges who will serve in those courts would be thoroughly vetted. Endit