Roundup: Kenya set to launch tougher rules for graft cases

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Monday backed the Judiciary's decision to publish new rules aimed at speeding up corruption cases in courts.

Kenyatta said the Chief Justice David Maraga's decision to publish new rules of procedure for cases of corruption and economic crimes will help deter the vice.

"As always the president stands ready to give Chief Justice Maraga, and the entire Judiciary, his full support in enforcing these new regulations, and, more broadly, in ensuring the war on corruption is won," said a statement issued in Nairobi.

The president said he expected that other agencies that play a role in the fight against corruption will borrow a leaf from Maraga and take responsibility for their part in this war.

The statement comes a few hours after Maraga said new rules will be launched to ensure those who misuse or misappropriate public money will be held accountable faster.

Maraga said the regulations will ensure that once people are charged with economic crimes, they are set for conferencing within two days and hearings commence on a daily basis without adjournment.

In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy at a lawyer conference in Mombasa, Maraga said the rules he is yet to launch will see the blame game in corruption cases come to a halt.

The judiciary has been on the spot for delaying graft cases in the country.

Experts say deterrent measures that include lengthy prison terms for individuals accused of corruption as well as public awareness are key to eradicating the vice in Kenya.

While acknowledging that corruption is a threat to Kenya's national security and economic growth, experts say concerted efforts are urgent to root out the scourge in both the public and private sectors.

Kenyatta in October admitted that the fight against graft was not an easy one and directed agencies tasked with fighting corruption to hasten their pace to help deter the vice blamed for under-development in the country.

Kenyatta defended his government which he said had done more than all previous administrations since independence in fighting graft by sending senior government officials to court.

Maraga said the war on corruption is not a judicial function but a war that requires multi-faceted efforts of a credible and proper investigation by the police and the anti-graft agency.

He said proper prosecution and submission of evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions was crucial to enable the courts to apply the law and issue consequential punishments as provided for by the law when necessary.

"On my part, I am already taking active steps in the reorganization of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division of the High Court and the Anti-Corruption courts presided over by the Magistrates," he said. Endit