In Kenya, the political bad bloodbetween Agriculture Minister William Ruto and Justice Minister Martha Karua continues.Ruto, a member of the Orange Democratic Movement, one of the two main partiesthat make up the current coalition government had reportedly said that Karua, amember President Kibaki's party, sent an emissary over the possibility of Rutojoining hands with Karua for the 2012 presidential elections.
Ruto also reportedly said that a failedmotion in parliament to censure him over corruption was an attempt by JusticeMinister Karua to remove him from contesting the 2012 elections. Ruto isalleged to have used his influence to help a company that he partly owns tosell two million bags of maize to the National Cereals and Produce Board.
JusticeMinister Karua told VOA she is not using her office tointimidate her perceived political opponents.
"Ideal with policies for the entire government, whether is a prosecution done bythe attorney general, investigations done by the police and also the lack ofcoordination within government of all the players," she said.
Karuabrushed off allegations by Mr. Ruto that she has failed to fight endemiccorruption in Kenya.
"Infact what Mr. Ruto is like saying you having worked hard enough; you haven'tbroken me yet. His case is one of the cases that has been pending since 2003where he as a litigant through his lawyer has successfully stalled the casethrough constitutional application, and the court has failed to ensure thatends," Karua said.
Shesaid Kenyans must double their efforts to renew the country's justice system.
"Wemust renew our justice system; we must renew our institutions, and it's no morecomplicated because in government we now have people with pending cases likehim," Karua said.
Shewould not elaborate on the criminal case against Mr. Ruto except to say that itis a criminal case of an economic crime nature.
Karuaalso dismissed another Ruto allegation that a recent failed motion inparliament to censure Ruto for corruption was an attempt by Karua to remove himfrom contesting the 2012 elections.
"Ithink any intelligent observer should be able to separate facts from fiction.What if there was political bad blood between us, would that excuse him tomismanage his docket? Let's stick to the issues at hand," Karua said.
Karua,who has reportedly declared her intention to run for president in 2012, deniedshe had sent an emissary to Ruto over the possibility of Ruto joining her forthe 2012 presidential elections.
"Ihave told you right from the outset that whether there's politics or not,whether he has had views of me or anybody else, would that entitle him tomismanage his docket, would that absorb him from accountability. Those are theissues any intelligent observer should make. Whether you want to use politicsas an excuse, you still will have to account. And politics after 2012 will be2017. Anybody concluding that way would be saying that no politician will haveto account because every time you can say someone is haunting you," Karua said.