The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji has dismissed claims that his office was used to settle political scores in the Kimwarer and Arror dams’ scandal.
The DPP, who appeared on Punchline show on Sunday, said that the dams’ cases have nothing to do with targeting allies of Deputy President (DP) William Ruto.
“The Treasury has always been or perceived to be under the President himself. Rotich was appointed by the President. As as far as I am concerned, he was the Deputy President’s ally. He was brought there by the President. The Arror and Kimwarer was a national project, it is not about the Deputy President. It is about a national project that was applied wrongly. It is about commercial loans taken to the detriment of the Kenyan people,” said Haji.
However, DPP Haji said that the case is still in court where it is bogged down by numerous applications.
Nonetheless, Haji said that his office is still making headway in the case having won several applications.
The weak link
During the interview, the country’s chief prosecutor admitted that systemic corruption has been the cancer that has been gnawing at the heart of the judicial system.
“Corruption is ubiquitous in Kenya. It is all over, whether it is prosecutors or investigators,” said Haji.
But he dismissed claims that the clash between his office and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations points to a weak link in the fight against corruption.
“There will be times when we will defer in decisions that we make. In the case [about Kenya Ports Authority managing director] it was our opinion that it was not ready to go to court,” said Haji.
Asked about whether convictions should be the measure of success in the fight against corruption, the DPP said that there are indicators of success.
“For example, we have entered into a number of deferred judgments against banks allowing for penalties,” said Haji.
But the DPP said that the country is bleeding from corruption, noting the total value of cases in court amount to Sh224 billion.
Haji Punchline interview:
