Ex-CS Sicily Kariuki: Uhuru warned he wouldn’t defend me in graft scandal
By David Nthua, August 29, 2025Former Cabinet Secretary for Health, Sicily Kariuki, has said former President Uhuru Kenyatta could not tolerate corruption and, at one point, warned her that he would not defend her if she was implicated in graft.
Kariuki, speaking to a local TV station on Friday, August 29, 2025, revealed that her former boss was candid about the risks of handling powerful ministries with huge budgets, noting that public money could easily attract cartels and corrupt dealings.
“Former President Uhuru Kenyatta told me, I am putting you in dockets with huge budgets, it is not your money. Actually, you are going to be jailed, and I will not help you,” Kariuki said.
She explained that this firm caution shaped her approach to leadership in government, ensuring she resisted the constant temptations of corruption even when it came at a personal cost.
“I have gone through primary occasions twice, and nobody asked me on either occasion.
“Colleagues of mine would confirm being asked for money by MPs. In my own case, cartels tried to bribe me, and I refused.
“For cartels, there is a price you pay when you fail to play to the ball,” Kariuki recounted.
Corruption culture in Parliament
Kariuki further pointed out that while some MPs were being branded as corrupt, it was unfair to condemn all lawmakers as a collective.
She said corruption often thrives in selective cases where individuals exploit loopholes for personal gain.
“Just because we are accusing MPs of being corrupt, I want to confirm that there are some MPs there.
They should not be sacrificed,” she stated, calling for a fair and balanced approach in the fight against graft.
Deep-rooted cartel problem
According to Kariuki, her decision to stand firm against bribery and cartels cost her politically, as she was often targeted for refusing to play along.
She described cartels in government as deeply entrenched networks that operate beyond ministries and exploit opportunities to protect their financial interests.
Her remarks come at a time when President William Ruto has launched a fresh campaign against corruption, insisting that Parliament is compromised.
Kariuki’s revelations now add to the ongoing national conversation, exposing the persistent dangers that cartels and political patronage continue to pose in Kenya’s governance.