Most Kenyans Want Leaders To Step Down Over Graft

Only 33 percent thought any political or business leader responsible for organising the violence would ever be convicted.

More than two-thirds of Kenyans would like senior members of President Mwai Kibaki's government to step down to allow graft probes, a survey said on Monday.

Seventy-one percent said one or more cabinet ministers should resign, with 56 percent of those putting Agriculture Minister William Ruto at the top of the list, according to the study by Kenya's most respected pollster Steadman.

Ruto survived a no-confidence motion in parliament last week, brought by critics for his alleged role in illegal maize sales that have exacerbated food shortages. He says political enemies have tried to make him a scapegoat.

The report underlined public disgust at the emergence of yet more scandals -- this time over irregular deals in the maize and oil sectors -- this year in east Africa's biggest economy, especially at a time of widespread hunger.

The maize problems, and the irregular release of about $100 million in oil reserves to a private company, have infuriated Kenyans and caused deep disillusionment with the coalition of Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga set up last year.

They had promised a new start after years of multi-million dollar scandals in Kenya, with no high-ranking officials brought to justice.

The Steadman poll of 1,012 people was taken last week and said only 31 percent expected the coalition to hold together until the next election due in 2012.

Seventy percent listed "none" as the coalition's main achievement since being formed in April, 2008, after post-election violence that killed 1,300 people, displaced more than 300,000 and paralysed the economy.

Only 33 percent thought any political or business leader responsible for organising the violence would ever be convicted.