Talk less, take more resolute action to tackle corruption

Not so long ago, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was sternly directed to bring pressure to bear on some 174 or so “suspects” within 60 days. We were told the fight against corruption had begun in earnest. Instead the Commission would itself implode within that time.

To be fair, there was fighting, but only on how to carve the carcass, because since that infamous State of the Nation address to the National Assembly, it has been open season at public coffers. It was therefore jaw-dropping listening to the President this past week “renewing” his “fight on corruption.”

The address left many utterly underwhelmed and confounded. The President appeared completely unaware that Kenya already has robust laws regarding corruption.

In a breathtaking plea, he called for religious leaders to declare corruption a sin. The eighth commandment states ‘Thou shall not steal’! Transgression against this key commandment is already a grave sin.

Similarly the President’s calls for ethics to be examined in schools and for supplementary anti-corruption legislation are red herrings.

Parallels have been drawn with Singapore, a country widely regarded as being the least corrupt, which has a single legislation on corruption with less than 40 provisions.

Observers at a distance must be bemused at just how much talk keeps being talked when what is needed is resolute action.

For the umpteenth time, the fight against corruption is besieged not by want of legislation but by lack of political will. The President has much to his credit demonstrated that he has the will to talk. It is the walking that has been his bane. He has been bark without bite.

He has shown he is ready to do battle with himself for eons before sacking particularly problematic cabinet secretaries. Those who resign do so not because of the evil nature of corruption but rather because of the complicated inconveniences of getting caught at it. Had the President possessed the wherewithal and nerves to slay the dragon of corruption, we would have doubtlessly witnessed a certain ruthlessness in dealing with those who pilfer our livelihoods.

As time goes by it is becoming increasingly clear that the hope Kenyans keep entertaining that President Uhuru will act decisively against corruption is well and truly unfounded. In the end this was just another public relations speech.

We need to realise that the objective of having a clean government can only be achieved by those untainted by sleaze. It is not realistic to expect those anchored in corruption itself to fight it.

A wolf cannot possibly outlaw the slaughter of lambs, innocent as they may be, as this will invariably cause his pack to atrophy. It is also implausible for one to cut the very tree he is at the top of.

We should not therefore be surprised that we observe the hyenas around the President manifesting avarice since we know that this is a quality that is inherent in all hyenas. Greed is the very essence of these creatures.

Ultimately, no elected leader is self-appointed; it is we who vote them into office. While not a single saint has ever put his or herself up for election, it is with hindsight, difficult to conclude that we have elected the best men and women to lead us. Leadership is not about personality, it’s about behaviour. An observable set of skills and abilities.

While we have a right to decide who our leaders are, that right comes with a heavy responsibility that demands we choose wisely.

We have too often found much comfort in reflexive tendencies that sooth our primordial instincts. We must regrettably admit that our election cycles have so far fared quite poorly in sorting out the wheat from the chaff.