Big fish versus small fish Twitter debate

The arrest of the Officer-in-Charge of Zimmerman Police post in Kasarani by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has become a subject of serious debate online following a Tweet by the EACC drew a negative response from controversial lawyer Ahmednassir Abdullahi.

ARREST OF THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF ZIMMERMAN POLICE POST IN KASARANI DIVISION TO FACE GRAFT CHARGES
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Thursday arrested the Officer-in-Charge of Zimmerman Police Post in Kasarani Division, Inspector of Police Susan Wambui… pic.twitter.com/NOzndtiHaj

— EACC (@EACCKenya) July 28, 2023

In response to the EACC Tweet, Ahmednassir, a Senior Counsel member of the bar, rubbished the arrest of Inspector Susan Wambui Muiruri, who was arrested in Kasarani and will face corruption charges, suggesting the anti-graft body should not be celebrating the arrest of “small fish”.

All Kenyans of goodwill, led by Inspector General of Police Mr. Koome must fight and stop this malicious and discriminatory scheme that targets the police. Why is @EACCKenya obsessed with police officers who earns Kshs 30k a month? What is this madness and obsession with the… https://t.co/RwlNVuUrG0

— Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC (@ahmednasirlaw) July 28, 2023

Inspector Wambui was arrested after the Director of Public Prosecutions recommended that she be charged with two counts of soliciting and receiving a bribe, an offense she is alleged to have committed on 25 April, 2021.

The Senior Counsel stirred debate by KOT, claiming EACC was obsessed with targeting police officers who earn KSh30,000 per month instead of going for the big fish who line their bank accounts with billions stolen from the public coffers.

Senior, sometimes you always fight a deafening fight. The same police are obsessed with Kshs 50 a day on roadside. They are the same police you always complain they create traffic jam. If someone has been found on the wrong side of the law then let the rules applies.

— Bobby Vj™ (@BobbyVj) July 29, 2023

EACC tried to make a case, in their own defense, saying mega-corruption cases were more complex and required more time to prosecute, urging Kenyans to appreciate that they (EACC)needed to be appreciated for recovering billions of proceeds of crime, dwarfing the exchequer’s allocation to them.

Here are some of the Tweets from the online exchange:

Whether Kshs 500 or Ksh 1 billion, all corrupt people should be prosecuted. But I get your point that our Justice system is very harsh on small thieves while big thieves get an easy pass and Presidential pardons. Hopefully we can make the economy work for all people, but…

— Anwar Saddat (@AnuarSaddat) July 28, 2023

Thank you Ken for your inquiry.
It could have helped you in shaping an objective opinion had you not based it purely on this single arrest as though it was everything that the Commission has done. Bribery is a prevalent form of corruption that hurts ordinary citizens at the…

— EACC (@EACCKenya) July 29, 2023