Political leaders in President William Ruto’s backyard, Uasin Gishu, have come under scathing criticism from religious for soliciting bribes from desperate jobless youth.

The criticism comes against the backdrop of a case in which former Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, faces accusations of abuse of office and conspiring to steal Ksh1.1 billion (8.5 million) from Kenya Commercial Bank account in Eldoret, registered under the Uasin Gishu Education Trust Fund.

He money was obtained by Mandago – now a senator – under the pretext of securing scholarships for dozens of youth in Uasin Gishu to study in Sweden.

On Monday, elected leaders and senior government officials were warned against demanding monetary payments from desperate youths in exchange for job opportunities. Nominated Member of Parliament, MP Bishop Emeritus Jackson Kosgei, said it was despicable for leaders and senior government employees to ask for money from desperate job seekers to secure employment.

Bishop Kosgei said demanding Kshh500,000 ($3,862) to Ksh600,000 ($4,635) from jobseekers for employment as a teacher or forcing parents to sell land to buy a job for a child in the police service or the military is tantamount to robbing the poor.

“Let us not extort the poor, and instead be fair to all irrespective of their status in life,” the cleric said.

Speaking during a church function at Chepkanga A.I.C in Uasin Gishu County, the nominated MP who represents persons with disability castigated the behaviour of leaders who dish out employment letters for kickbacks warning the culprits.

“Your time to be exposed is coming,” he warned. “I am appealing on the pulpit today to leaders and senior government officials and not for political expediency, and it is not about being elected but doing justice for all Kenyans irrespective of their background.”

The MP made a passionate plea to those who will be responsible for the forthcoming police recruitment exercise between July and December to give a fair chance to those who turn up for interviews.

“Let there be fairness; let those who qualify do so through merit, and not because they have parted with money to be considered. Don’t steal from the poor; conduct the recruitment without asking for bribes,” he implored.

Bishop Kosgei at the same time called on Lands Principal Secretary Nixon Korir to protect poor land owners from being deprived of their property by the elite because they have been unable to clear fees to acquire title deeds.

Some poor families in Uasin Gishu whose parents were unable to pay the requisite fees to acquire title deeds for their farms risk losing their land to crooked elites who take advantage of the predicament of the families to transfer the properties to themselves illegally.

“Protect the poor and their land from the rich and influential people eyeing to grab the property”, he urged the PS.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Kiptanui Cherono