President Kenyatta Orders Fresh Vetting of High-Ranking State Officials in Crackdown on Corruption

President Kenyatta has reportedly directed a fresh vetting of high-ranking government officials, especially members of the Cabinet following revelations of multi-billion scandals that have hit different ministries in recent weeks.

The president has constituted a special multi-agency team to oversee the fresh vetting process that could see several officials sent packing.

Part of the vetting team has been drawn from the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Deputy Head of Public Service Wanyama Musiambo will personally coordinate it. 

Among officials to be vetted include Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and heads of parastatals. After completion of the exercise, the team will table a report to President Kenyatta, who will then decide the next course of action.

The vetting, which is expected to run up to end of June, could result to a major shake-up of the executive and other State institutions, the newspaper further says.

“You must have noted that he (Mr Kenyatta) has yet to comment about these cases of stealing public funds since the reports started coming out. He is working on a plan. The endgame will be undesirable to those involved,” a source told Daily Nation.

In recent weeks, Sh9 Billion scandal at the National Youth Service (NYS), Sh1.9 Billion maize scandal at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), another at Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), Youth Fund and Kenya Power, have been reported.