Speaking to participants at the first-ever Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing National Risk Assessment Report launch (2021), CS Matiang’i said that politicians had stored up the notes for use in campaigning.
This according to the Interior CS has caused shortage of Sh200 and Sh100 notes in banks.
According to the cabinet secretary, politicians who bribe voters to change their minds are more likely to misappropriate public funds if they are elected to office.
“If you put these people into elective positions do you think they will actually firm up the regulatory environment? It is a question we have to ask ourselves,” Dr Matiang’i said.
Several billionaire car dealers were also mentioned by him as potential sources of political finance or money laundering.
“Car dealers changed billions of shillings. How many cars do you need to sell to be able to have billions and all these dealers are friends of senior politicians? They are now the ones financing all these Sh200 and Sh500 notes in the villages and so on,” Matiang’i stated.
He emphasized the need to choose a government free from the influence of alleged money launderers.
The CS voiced concern in May on the candidates who plan to run for office in the upcoming election on August 9.
If Kenyans permit candidates to buy their way into leadership positions, according to CS Matiang’i, the nation runs the risk of having nearly half of elected office holders be members of money laundering gangs.
“We could end up laundering criminals of unprecedented standards into our elective offices. We might have over 40% of elected office holders becoming our leaders if we allow all the ‘wash wash’ gangs and other criminals to bribe their way in the coming elections,” Matiang’i stated.
