A faction of Azimio politicians has raised eyebrows over the recent arrest of the Controller of Budget, Margaret Nyakango, expressing discontent with what they perceive as a concerning development for Kenya's democracy and a reflection of systemic issues.
Narok County Senator Ledama Ole Kina, leading the charge, voiced his displeasure, describing Nyakango's arrest as a stain on Kenya's democratic principles and an indication of a flawed system.
"Welcome to Kenya where the police take action on a complaint 7 years later … only crooks can survive in a rotten system," remarked Ole Kina in a statement.
Ole Kina went further to suggest a hidden agenda behind the arrest and urged the Kenya Kwanza government to consider amending the constitution to abolish the Controller of Budget's (CoB's) office rather than resorting to covert tactics to hinder her work.
"You don’t arrest the Controller of Budget; her job is clearly defined in the constitution. If you have a problem with her role to oversee the implementation of the budgets, amend the constitution," emphasized Ledama in his statement.
Meanwhile, Saboti Member of Parliament (MP) Caleb Amisi linked the arrest to political persecution, alleging an attempt to blackmail Nyakango into ceasing her efforts to expose corruption within the government.
"She has been at the forefront of fighting corruption that is deeply embedded in both the central government and county governments. We must celebrate stern astute women," stated Amisi.
In a broader perspective, Third Way Alliance leader Ekuru Aukot expressed concern that the arrest could tarnish the image of the National Police Service (NPS), portraying it as an agency being misused to advance political agendas.
"A clear case of politicizing the investigative agencies. This action erodes public confidence in the police service," remarked Aukot.
Nyakango was arrested on Tuesday in Mombasa, and online commentators linked her troubles to a presentation where she accused senior government officials in the Treasury of being involved in corruption through budgetary allocations.
During her appearance before the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), Nyakang'o disclosed that the National Treasury had inflated her salary budget three times, with the excess never reaching her account. The controversy surrounding her arrest has sparked debates about the integrity of Kenya's institutions and the apparent politicization of law enforcement agencies.