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CS Matiang’i Links Politicians To Money Laundering As Their Is Shortage Of Ksh.100 And Ksh.200 Notes

SK 2 years ago 2 min read

Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Fred Matiang’i has expressed concern over a shortage of Ksh. 100 and Ksh. 200 notes that are currently in use locally. He attributes the shortage to politicians who are allegedly stockpiling cash in order to bribe voters in the days preceding the August elections.

During the 2022 National Risk Assessment on Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing report unveiling on Wednesday in Nairobi, the CS noted that vote-buying gives politicians a terrible incentive to commit wrongdoing.

“All Kenyans who have been looking around the villages have seen people carrying money in bags, lining up citizens to give them Ksh.200. You understand now there is a shortage of Ksh.200 and Ksh.100 notes in our banks because politicians are bribing villagers,” said the CS.
The CS also believes that criminals are taking advantage of lax banking restrictions to influence the political process, endangering the legitimacy and transparency of the elections in August. The CS notes that Kenya needs to adopt a strict legislative framework to gradually reduce such dangers.

Matiang’i remarked that 40% of aspirants for elective seats on the ballot next month are somehow implicated in money laundering and fraud while bemoaning the impact of illicit money on the polls next month.

“After this election, 40 per cent of the people who will seat in elective institutions are active players in money laundering and trafficking so there is no hope that they can actually tidy up the legislative environment,” he said.

Matiang’i went on to urge Kenyans to cast their votes wisely underscoring the need to vote for leaders with integrity who want to improve livelihoods and not those who offer temporary solace in the form of handouts.

“We elect a government that is against money laundering, that has got a basic minimum level of integrity that will join all of us in fighting this because the challenges of this are real,” said the Interior Minister.