Kenya president declares corruption national security threat to bolster fight against graft

NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya's president has declared corruption a national security threat.

President Uhuru Kenyatta announced Monday a raft of measures to bolster the fight against corruption that is endemic in East Africa's largest economy. Measures include the vetting of customs and revenue officers, whom the government believes are denying the country revenue by taking bribes to overlook individuals' and institutions' tax obligations.

Kenyatta's nearly three-year old regime has come under heavy criticism for inaction against graft.

Many of the incidents of graft highlighted by the Kenyan media focused on the Devolution and Planning Ministry where the minister Anne Waiguru resigned over weekend, citing health concerns. Kenya ranked a low 145 out 174 countries in Transparency International 2014 index of perception of graft among countries.