The government has urged business firms and the private sector to resist blackmail and extortion disguised as protection money by rogue politicians.
Interior CS Fred Matiang’i has said intelligence agencies are aware that politicians are extorting donations from prominent businesses in exchange for alleged protection in the next government.
He was speaking during the third roundtable engagement between the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee (NDICCC).
Matiang’i said the forced election campaign donations are illegal and are being used to subvert the electoral process by providing the money to bribe voters and hire crowds.
“Some of these crooks get money from you. We have a list of all these corporates who have been visiting leafy homes at night. Some of them are tax evaders who are now buying protection from these politicians,” he stated.
The CS challenged the private sector to play a more active role in enlightening its members to vote out corrupt leaders and candidates of dubious integrity.
“Stop funding them. They are not the ones who are going to decide whether you’re going to do business in the country or not. You are Kenyans, and it is your right to do business here. So, don’t be threatened,” he said.
“Unless we are really serious about these things, we will launder these characters into parliament. How do you expect them to amend your tax laws?” Matiang’i added.
The meeting was organized as a follow up on intervention measures targeting economic growth and business continuity ahead of the August 9 polls.
It also dwelled on how to mitigate the negative impact of the Russian war with Ukraine especially the rise of the prices of essential commodities by the disruption of global supply chains.
On election security preparedness, the CS reiterated that the police have been adequately resourced to support the IEBC deliver peaceful, free and fair elections.
