Human rights activist Dr. Isaac Newton Kinity has challenged Kenyans, particularly Gen Z, to make corruption and accountability decisive issues in the country’s next elections.
In a statement published on his official Facebook page on Sunday, September 13, 2026, the chairman of Kikimo Foundation for Corruption and Poverty Eradication argued that Kenya’s economic and social problems cannot be addressed meaningfully while senior officials accused of looting public resources continue to enjoy political influence and impunity.
He questioned presidential hopefuls who promise to transform the country despite having served in Parliament or previous administrations, arguing that many of the problems they now campaign against existed while they were in positions of legislative or executive responsibility.
The former Secretary General of the Kenya Civil Servants Union called for living persons found guilty of stealing public funds to face prosecution, imprisonment and recovery of the resources obtained through corruption.
He also criticised what he described as selective anti-corruption efforts that pursue petty offenders while people accused of stealing billions remain politically active.
According to the activist, leaving public office should not erase accountability for alleged crimes committed while in power. He further argued that political opposition should not be treated as a refuge from investigations or prosecution.
Appeal to Gen Z
The statement places particular emphasis on young voters, with an appeal to Gen Z to register in large numbers and use the ballot to influence the country’s leadership.
Young people, he said, should resist politicians who return during election campaigns with small financial inducements after spending years in positions of power.
He pointed to the 2024 protests as proof that Kenya’s younger generation can mobilise around national issues and challenge political establishments.
The experience, he argued, also exposed the limits of ethnic politics among younger voters, saying politicians have often amplified tribal divisions to secure electoral support.
His message to Gen Z is that political participation should not end with street protests. The same energy, he argued, must be carried into voter registration and the ballot box.
‘Why haven’t they impeached Ruto?’
The statement also turns its scrutiny toward politicians who place the blame for Kenya’s problems entirely on President William Ruto.
While recalling former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s warnings about Ruto during the 2022 election campaign, the activist questioned the credibility of politicians who now portray themselves as alternatives to the current administration despite having served in Parliament and previous governments.
“If William Ruto alone is the cause of the suffering, agony, and premature deaths, why haven’t they impeached William Ruto?” he asked.
The argument, therefore, extends beyond the current administration. Legislators and political leaders from previous governments, he maintained, should also account for their contribution to the country’s governance record.
Due process
Despite his call for aggressive action against corruption, the statement acknowledges that accusations alone cannot justify imprisonment.
Anyone accused of stealing public funds, he said, must be investigated and prosecuted through the courts and given an opportunity to defend themselves.
He also rejected attempts to transfer criminal responsibility to relatives of deceased suspects, arguing that children and spouses cannot be prosecuted for crimes allegedly committed by their deceased family members.
The broader message is that accountability should follow the evidence and the law, rather than political convenience.
Kinity expressed confidence that corruption can eventually be defeated in Kenya, but said that will require a political culture in which public officials can no longer treat state resources as personal wealth and voters refuse to reward leaders with records of corruption.
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