* Kibaki says new law to curb abuse of office
* Minister suspended over fraud charge
* Analysts say move could be politically motivated
By James Macharia
NAIROBI, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Kenya&${esc.hash}39;s President Mwai Kibaki
said on Wednesday he would step up the fight against corruption
in east Africa&${esc.hash}39;s biggest economy, a day after suspending a
cabinet minister over fraud charges.
Kibaki said the new constitution he promulgated in August
had given fresh impetus to a war against corruption that
analysts say is endemic and has choked growth in Kenya&${esc.hash}39;s
economy, deterring potential investors.
On Tuesday, Kibaki suspended Higher Education Minister
William Ruto after high court judges ruled Ruto should stand
trial for fraud over a land deal.
Kibaki came to power in 2002 on an anti-graft platform, but
his record i this area has failed to impress his critics.
Kenyan media have been replete with corruption scandals, but
no minister or high profile official has been convicted.
"As a Government, we have also instructed all the relevant
government agencies to take the necessary action against those
engaged in acts of corruption," Kibaki said in a speech.
"Corruption is a great impediment to good governance and we must
do more to effectively and decisively deal with this vice."
Analysts said even though Kibaki was within his rights to
suspend Ruto under the new constitution, the move could be aimed
at crippling a cabinet rebel who spearheaded a failed bid to
shoot down the new constitution in August&${esc.hash}39;s referendum.
Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga backed the new law
meant to tackle corruption, political patronage and tribalism
which have plagued Kenya since independence in 1963.
Analysts noted the charge against Ruto has been pending for
about six years until a court ruled against him last Friday.
"The opportunity to prosecute Ruto has always been there,
this case has been around for a while. So the question is why go
ahead now? I think there could be some element of settling of
scores," political commentator Kwamchetsi Makokha said.
LAND GRABS
Ruto, Odinga&${esc.hash}39;s ally during the 2007 disputed election,
becomes the latest minister to be suspended. At least five other
ministers have been suspended or stepped aside over graft
allegations under Kibaki&${esc.hash}39;s rule.
All were cleared of the allegations against them which never
made it to court. Four regained their seats.
Sleaze has spread from politicians, to civil servants,
private business and ordinary Kenyans who part with little sums
of money for favours, especially in government offices.
The new law gives the country&${esc.hash}39;s main graft-busting agency
powers to prosecute corruption cases.
Odinga said the new law would help curb abuse of power and
curb impunity by holding public officials accountable.
"If you see someone grabbing public land, report them
immediately. The grabbers&${esc.hash}39; era ended with the old constitution
that we have now buried," Odinga told a crowd that gathered to
watch a military parade and a fly-past by fighter jets.
"We don&${esc.hash}39;t want to see someone grabbing school land to put up
commercial buildings. We don&${esc.hash}39;t want to see all that in future."
(Editing by Ralph Boulton)
(Email: nairobi.newsroom@reuters.com; tel: +254 20 222 4717))
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