Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo believes that the fight against corruption in Kenya can only succeed with proper witness protection.

According to Maanzo, the lack of successful prosecutions is primarily due to the insufficient protection of witnesses, who often face threats and even death.

“The problem with corruption is that no one is being prosecuted successfully. When a witness comes out to give evidence against corrupt individuals, as we have seen before, some end up dead. We need proper protection of witnesses,” Maanzo stated in a media briefing.

Maanzo on police investigations

Maanzo also highlighted the need for more robust police investigations, criticizing the current state of investigative work as inadequate. He pointed out that poor investigations lead to the acquittal of corrupt officers, who sometimes even sue for compensation due to wrongful prosecutions.

“The police investigations are usually weak, and courts are presented with sham cases. Such individuals end up being acquitted and then sue for compensation for wrongful prosecutions,” he explained.

The senator called on President William Ruto to overhaul the institutions responsible for combating corruption and to hire qualified and right people for these critical positions.

“The president needs to come up with an overhaul of police institutions and hire the right people for these positions,” he added.

Maanzo’s comments come amid growing youth-led calls for the government to address corruption more effectively.

Last Friday, President Ruto reassured the public that any Cabinet Secretary or Principal Secretary found with verified allegations against them would face swift action.

During an interactive session with the youth on the X platform, Ruto explained why he has not yet dismissed Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi despite the ongoing fertilizer scandal.

He emphasized that Kenya is a country that upholds the rule of law, and individuals cannot be fired based on unverified allegations.

Linturi has faced intense scrutiny over a scandal involving the sale of 139,688 bags of soil amendment and conditioner, valued at Ksh209 million, falsely represented as genuine fertilizer. This scandal has raised significant public outcry and calls for accountability.

For these and more credible stories, join our revamped Telegram and WhatsApp channels.

Telegram: https://t.me/peopledailydigital

WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va698juDOQIToHyu1p