Supreme Judge Justice Smokin Wanjala and Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua clashed at Kabarak University in Nakuru over the war on corruption.
The two had been invited by the institution to address the university’s Law School International Conference on Corruption whose theme was ‘The war on corruption and the rule of law’.
Whereas Dr Wanjala asked the public to intensify their efforts in the war, Ms Karua, a former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, blamed the Judiciary for failing to act on high profile graft cases.
She said that this was making theft of public funds and engagement in economic crimes fashionable.
Justice Wanjala said for the country to be free of graft, the rule of law and public education remain key to address the problem.
“In order to fight corruption, we must embed the rule of law,” he said.
Dr Wanjala said corruption had reached a destructive level in the country and has deprived Kenyans of basics like good health, food security and proper health care.
” Kenyans must wage a total war on graft because the vice is a complex conspiracy. The country needs a sophisticated system to fight graft, ” he said.
Dr Wanjala said one of the public sectors currently experiencing many cases of corruption is the public procurement.
“The laws in public procurement are clear but they have been flouted on several occasions. For example, what is the need to have a middleman for the purchase of government arsenal? These provide room for graft,” he said.
Dr Wanjala further called for spirited campaign including public education and sensitisation on the effects of corruption.
