Billow Kerrow
The Wikileaks ‘cablegate’ reports that the US believes Kenya to be a ‘swamp of flourishing corruption’ is an indictment of the Grand Coalition, which in spite all pretenses, has succeeded in patenting this vice in its ranks.
Kenyans know that ordinary Kenyans would probably have used far stronger language to describe the graft in Government so effectively nourished by this regime. And as if to vindicate the WikiLeaks report, the Treasury PS Joseph Kinyua, told Parliament this week that nearly a third of the Sh1 trillion budgeted expenditure this year, Sh270 billion will be siphoned out of the system through corruption.
Kinyua’s statement, which is not new revelation, flies in the face of the rhetoric rebuttal to the US indictment issued by the Government spokesman, Alfred Mutua, in which he accused US of malice. Mutua had more reasons to vent Executive anger on the US because of the youth empowerment campaign the latter funds.
Most leaders who feel they have everything to gain in the status quo frown upon the campaign, which seeks to challenge lack of accountability by the political leadership. It is the paradigm shift pursued by the youth campaign that the Executive unwittingly fears would lead to a regime change.
It has long been stated by various agencies that the Government loses about a third of its expenditure budget through graft at all levels of public service, especially through procurement of goods and services at inflated prices.
Kinyua’s admission that Treasury’s attempt to rein in graft in various public institutions has not succeeded is quite telling, given that he is responsible for public financial management, and is the custodian of all public assets. He admitted that accountability by Accounting Officers for finances under their control is wanting, and that his ministry is indeed ignored when they attempt to seek explanations.
While we agree with him the Efficiency Monitoring Unit (EMU) not only lacks legal mandate and capacity to internally ‘audit’ public institutions, it shocking that he appeared helpless. The PS Treasury appoints all accounting officers, including the Water Ministry PS who ignored his instructions, and has powers to withdraw their appointment if they fail to comply with his instructions.
In addition, he can freeze their exchequer releases until they comply with financial management regulations. The offices of the Controller General and Internal Auditor-General who oversee implementation of public expenditure in Government are under his command. So, why can’t he strike?
In the past, EMU has been used by the Office of the President to cover up graft and hound out ‘rebels’ in its ranks. It is apparent that now it is the office of the PM that is using it for the same purpose; hence, it is not surprising that Water Ministry PS preferred dealing with EMU, rather than KACC.
As the supervisor and co-ordinator of Government ministries, the PM shares greater responsibility for the resurgent graft in all public institutions, not just those ministries run by his political allies. The Government is still paying billions to the Anglo Leasing contractors and financiers, and fictitious dues on the KenRen project. Claims of bribery have even surfaced in relation to the ICC investigations, and drug barons reportedly enjoy protection in high offices.
Kenyans increasingly find it difficult to share in the optimism often expressed by the PM that the country is on the right track when graft continues to plague the nation. Its adverse consequences — food insecurity, poverty and income inequalities — are only getting worse in spite of the positive economic growth indicators. This regime has an obligation to drain the ‘swamp’ to forestall the youth ‘revolution’ that, like the tsunami, will sweep them to the sea. More Wikileaks please.
The writer is a political economist and former MP for Mandera Central
