President William Ruto announced yesterday he has listened, in the past month, to the frustrations of the nation. And in one of his most audacious statements declared that he will direct his energies to slay corruption.
Ruto said he will propose changes to the Criminal Procedure Act and the Evidence Act to make it easier for the anti-corruption police to investigate and prosecute suspects.
He will also shine a harsh light of transparency on procurement processes in the civil service that he acknowledged as the epicentre of fraud.
Ruto has zeroed in on the one monster that has for decades sucked the confidence of an entire nation and robbed us of hope.
What started under Jomo Kenyatta as conflict of interest in the public service, morphed into a hydra that became so pervasive you can hardly get any government service or contract without paying a hefty bribe.
The legal steps he will take will be welcomed with enthusiasm.
However, the war on corruption has frustrated his four predecessors because they did not have the political will to fight the ogre.
Even as he tackles big graft, we appeal to Ruto to rid our roads of the demeaning variety brazenly carried out by the traffic police.
Every public-spirited citizen hangs their head in shame each time they see a matatu conductor press a Sh100 note into the hands of a shameless traffic police officer.
Quote of the Day: “It is unfortunate, considering that enthusiasm moves the world, that so few enthusiasts can be trusted to speak the truth.”
Arthur Balfour
The British Prime Minister was born on July 25, 1848