Karua dares Uhuru, Raila to reveal riches

I’m worth Sh56m, says Karua as she dares rivals

By STELLA CHERONO scherono@ke.nationmedia.com  ( email the author)

Posted  Tuesday, January 15  2013 at  00:30

In Summary

• Narc-Kenya leader says her earthly belongings consist of three plots and a vehicle, all valued at Sh56 million
• Ms Karua did not name her running mate as expected, but said that she would do so soon, as she wanted to consult party members
• The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is meant to vet aspirants for political office in line with Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity and weed out the rotten ones

Narc-Kenya presidential candidate Martha Karua on Monday publicly declared her wealth, throwing a challenge to other presidential candidates to follow suit.

Ms Karua gave her net worth as Sh56 million, a relatively modest fortune given the immense wealth of top politicians.

“I urge all those who are running for the top seat to follow suit and declare their wealth and allow the public to question their mode of acquisition. If you are a true reformer, you need to let the country know where you have been getting your wealth,” she said.

Ms Karua’s gesture elevates the debate for integrity in public office for a country where power and corruption go hand-in-hand.

Leaders have gone to great lengths to conceal what they own, and how they came to own it, even as they publicly protest that they are clean and their riches honestly accumulated. Occasionally they trade allegations of looting.

The Narc government, elected in 2002, came into office with reformist zeal and wrote a law requiring public officers to declare their wealth annually.

However, the Public Officer Act says that any person who publishes or in any way makes public any information obtained from people who have declared wealth without prior permission and knowingly republishes or otherwise shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for five years or to a fine not exceeding Sh500,000, or to both.

Serious corruption scandals took place in the Narc government, notably Anglo Leasing, which destroyed its anti-corruption credentials and dented the fight against corruption.

Revelations by former anti-graft czar John Githongo demonstrated that the pressure to raise finances for campaigns was a key factor in high-level corruption.

Declaration of wealth by all presidential candidates would set an example for the rest of the field and deal a serious blow to corruption.

On Monday, Ms Karua said she acquired her riches from her salary as clearly spelt out in a wealth declaration form she submitted to National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende.

Fabulously wealthy