Sifuna: Freedom has only come to President Ruto’s friends
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna says the withdrawal of charges
levelled against some politicians is only to the advantage of leaders allied to
President William Ruto.
The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji on
Wednesday announced he had dropped a Ksh.19 million graft case against Public Service and Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee Aisha Jumwa.
He
also recently made an application to withdraw a Ksh. 80 million graft case
against former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal,
who has been shortlisted for the position of Principal Secretary.
DPP
Haji is also seeking approval to drop another Ksh.400 million graft case
against former Kenya Power Managing Director Ben Chumo.
But according to Sifuna who was speaking in an interview on
Citizen TV's Day Break program on Thursday, the withdrawals are only favouring
President Ruto's allies and should not be used to imply that Kenyans are
finally getting justice.
He cited Sirisia MP John Waluke's case, where
the legislator last week started serving a 67-year jail term for fraud and
illegal acquisition of Ksh.313 million.
"Don't tell us
that freedom has come. Freedom has come only to Ruto's friends, because even
yesterday, my brother from Bumula, Hon.Wmaboka asked, why has this freedom not
come for the likes of [Sirisia MP John] Waluke? If freedom has come, let it
come for everyone," said Sifuna.
The senator also shot
down comments by Mukurwe-ini MP John Kagucia, who in the program claimed that
the Kenya Kwanza government has created freedom in the country which the
opposition is basking on.
Kagucia had said: "We
can feel the freedom in the air and I think in the end that intimidation (by
the State) and I know this government will not be engaging in this kind of witch-hunt
anymore. Everyone is able to walk freely. Can you imagine the opposition is now
on the campaign trail? They are now feeling the freedom and they are using it."
But in a rejoinder,
Sifuna said freedoms are provided for in the 2010 Constitution and Kenya Kwanza
should not purport to have enabled the Raila Odinga-led faction to hold rallies
freely.
"When you see
Baba campaigning out there, know that that fredom has not been brought by the
Tangatanga government, it is under Article 37 of the constitution. We have
political rights, the rights to visit our people and assemble. This is not something
new, we don't need anybody's permission to go out and have a conversation with
the people," said Sifuna.
"You can
interpret as political campaigns or whatever you want, but don't say it is
newfound freedom because we gave ourselves this constitution in 2010 and it
guarantees us all these rights," he added.
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