Raila vs Karua: Leadership and integrity

All political parties in Kenya, should be responsible in scrutinizing the history of its candidates and ensure the candidates  pass the credibility and integrity test per section 6 of the new constitution. During the tenth parliament session, Gichugus' Member of Parliament Martha Karua, stood up and confronted the Prime Minister (PM) Raila Odinga as to why the Government was not following the new constitution i.e. section 6 (leadership & integrity) and  the anti-corruption and economic crimes of public officers act (disallows appointment of tainted public officers) in reference to Ministers and Public officers  holding public offices when faced with criminal proceedings over corruption and economic crimes.

Ms. Karua asked the Mr.Odinga: “Mr Prime Minister is it that you are not aware that the Minister for Higher Education is facing criminal charges in court?” - Mp in question is William Ruto. The PM was left defending Ministers who were still holding onto party positions saying they were not acting against the new Constitution since they double up as elected and appointed State officers. The PM was quoted saying,  “Lets us not cast aspersions and try to look at only one side. Are we not tying to see the log in our own eyes?” He also challenge Ms. Karua to show proof of convictions.

HYPOCRISY

It is applauding to see that there are some officials who are trying to implement the law; However, the law also applies to them.
Case and point, if Karua is raising concerne over ODM's Ruto's integrity, conflict of interest, and other clauses listed in the constitution that would bar someone from holding office,( Ruto is currently on trial charged with defrauding the Kenya Pipeline company of huge amounts of money through dubious land deals, no verdict yet on his guilt or innocence), Ms, Karua should also look into how PNU's  Gidion Mbuvi Kioko aka Mike Sanko , the recently elected Makadara MP, should not have been cleared to run with his prior arrest record and convictions that involve forgery, 2 months jail term in Shimo La Tewa prison in 1998, a stint in Kamiti Prison in 2001,and a prison break.
It is a no brainer that having an arrest record tarnishes the credibility and integrity of an individual. Here is someone who served time in jail for document forgery, someone who has be alleged to be a drug dealer(waiting to confirm this, hence alleged so don't be in a hurry to sue!), and a drug user who allegedly uses miraa aka khat (yes its legal in Kenya but illegal in many countries as WHO declared it a drug of abuse). How did he pass the credibility/integrity test? How is he to be ethical to the people? How dare Karua point fingers at the other party before looking at her own party, before giving Sonko the green light? I usually concur with Karua but am afraid not on this issue. It is a two way streak. No one should be above the law. It should have been a morality/ethical issue that determined Sonko's credibility. Kenyans are fighting to remove officials who are unethical, not credible, unscrupulous, yet some are been vetted for? Such hypocrites.


Kenya: current conditions and the challenges ahead.(Congressional Research Service)(Report): An article from: Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports and Issue Briefs