Kenya: Soon after accruing the echelons of power, Governors must have felt powerful, riding in flashy cars bearing the Kenyan flag, unaware of what Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) had in store for them.
Then motions for impeachment of governors started making headlines, a case in point being that of Embu County Governor Martin Wambora, who even after being reinstated by the High Court was impeached for a second time.
Besides an array of reasons, MCAs majorly used the authority to impeach governors as a stepping stone to ensure smooth release of funds for facilitation of their luxurious foreign travels and holiday making.
MCAs have since defended their trips stating that they have learnt a lot from them. While this is open to debate, glances at their activities abroad elicit contemptuous summations if not an abuse on the intelligence of the public.
It is in this spirit that I feel time is ripe for us to put a stop to these extravagant expenditures, question relevant authorities in the various county governments and where we find proof that the law has been broken, we advance towards legal action for those found guilty.
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Impressive work has already been done by Auditor General Edward Ouko, who has traversed the country unearthing the ugly sides of those we entrusted with public institutions.
His recent reports depict massive wastage of funds by MCAs in foreign trips and the Tenth Parliament that used CDF funds for campaigns.
It is inhumane for leaders to misuse public funds for their own benefit at the expense of poor Kenyans.
Devolution was not created to open avenues for further misappropriation of funds. The spirit of the new Constitution must he upheld by the Government, the civil society and most importantly the citizenry.
We cannot expect development in a society where corruption is a culture.
Corruption and development are antagonists and neither silence nor laxity shall free us from the misuse of taxes, sadly paid by even the poorest of society. Kenyans must become more vocal and hold their leaders to account.
After the shock findings by the Auditor General, we need not wait for another year to hear the same things.
The move by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to launch investigations into the foreign trips by MCAs is commendable. If anything, it ought to have started way back.
Civilian oversight is necessary to ensure prudent and lawful expenditure of public funds. It is equally important to amend legislation that gives MCAs powers to impeach governors to ensure they do not use this to hold the county bosses at ransom for their own selfish interests.
All stakeholders in the war against graft must condemn abuse of office.
I want to see organisations like Transparency International Kenya join hands with the media, the clergy and the citizenry to remind Kenyans of their responsibility to keep a keen eye on their elected leaders.
We voted for leaders and not tourists. If we fail to act now, the Canaan we dream of through Vision 2030 will remain an illusion. Like it is often said; kama si sasa ni sasa hivi. (If it is not now, then it is right now)
