Treat corruption same way we handled KCPE exams

Corruption in Kenya has now reached a level where the stench from it is nauseating; making every sane Kenyan choke with disgust and want to do something about it.

Kenyans from all walks of life now agree that something must be done and in this discourse, politicians cannot divide us along political or ethnic lines.

The effects of corruption are not confined to one part of the country but can be felt all over. Most counties lack adequate health services, insecurity affects us all, poverty is prevalent in all rural Kenya and unemployment does not only affect the Opposition zones.

Corruption is sending many to premature graves while the corrupt cartels are amassing wealth beyond belief. It is obvious to many that there is no goodwill from the Government to fight graft in this country since many in the establishment are beneficiaries.

It is also sad that many of the corrupt are blinded that they are insulated and, therefore, untouchable while some think that through corruption, they will rest easy in retirement and leave big fortunes for their children.

But they are deluded since experience shows “that which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly” and so the very children they are amassing wealth for will not respect those wrongly accumulated wealth and will definitely waste it when they pass on.

Kenyans were impressed with the way the Ministry of Education handled the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and wondered why the same vigilance cannot be used while dealing with corruption.

Is corruption a no go zone or is the Government impartial when it comes to dealing with it? Is protecting the integrity of national exams more important than fighting graft in our public institutions?

The diligence that the Government enlisted in ensuring there was no exam leakage is the same diligence that is needed to curb corruption.

Young children were searched to ensure they did not smuggle leaked exams commonly known as “Mwakenya” into the exam rooms. The Government even turned away those who wanted to provide free lunches to the candidates to protect the integrity of the exams.

How then is the same Government incapable of dealing with graft when they have all the State machinery to curb graft?

The same Government capable of delivering clean exams is also capable of delivering corruption-free services within the Government establishments.

Let us not only excel in making our children go through tight and rigorous examinations devoid of cheating and when they get back home, they watch the media that is awash with scandals after scandals.

Such children then wonder why adults are not subjected to the same rigorous processes that they as candidates are subjected to. Kenyans must say no to double standards and embrace integrity in all facets of societal life.

{David Sonye, Rarieda}

It might come as a surprise to the national leaders that a citizen is willing to have a national day for corruption but at the end, it will make sense.

Last week, the Parliament of South Africa had a Bill against their sitting President, charges being corrupt dealings within his office and a legion of his associates.

As we await the results, the Government should put in place such like measures in which the President at any given time should be in a position to fully pin point loopholes within his or her system without sounding weary of the fight.