How the imperfections of democratic processes often attract felons into office

Impunity and corruption has the tendency of fighting back. This is very common in Kenya and many other developing countries.

One only needs to look at how interviews for candidates seeking public offices are conducted and winners selected to see the rot in the system.

Unlike in the developed countries where political office attracts intense scrutiny, in Kenya and largely the African continent, the focus on candidates is quite casual or outright indifferent.

The conduct and integrity of the candidates is never meticulously analyzed to determine whether they are fit to hold office or not.

Candidates’ source of income is rarely interrogated. In any case in Kenya, ill-gotten wealth is perceived as a source of might and power.

A person of means is quite respected in spite of the source of his wealth.

It does not matter the legality of the source of wealth, but that he/ she is wealthy is enough quality for him/ her to access the high table of social nobility.

Democracy as a system of governance espouses the rule of the people by the people through popular will of the people by means of universal suffrage.

It is a system that offers candidates willing to compete for office an equal opportunity through campaigning to attract as many votes as possible by convincing the people to place votes in their favor in order to qualify them ascend to power.

These are often senior citizens who have retired after a long stint in the public or private service.

Because of the prestige and monetary gain that goes with holding these offices, individuals get to bask in the prestige, privilege and monetary compensation for serving and other attendant gains from the wield of power.

In typical political speak, these aspirants will site a call to serve the people as to the reason they make their quest for power.

It is no secret, however, that much as aspiring leaders make the claim to motivation for serving the people to a calling, it is obvious that ascendance to office is clearly a clamor for riches. It is not easy to understand how fast a newly elected leader is able to accumulate obscene wealth in a very short time.

It is, therefore of concern that people of dubious character are attracted to State offices for selfish reasons.

People who have defrauded the government and other prestigious organizations offer their candidature to elective offices because they can easily afford it.

They are ever ready to splash their resources on the gullible electorate to get elected.

They also recognize that while in office they can short-change the course of justice.

These are some of the inherent weaknesses of democracy.

Once State machinery fails or is unable to filter criminal elements from the electoral process; that system is as well as doomed.

Democracy is defeated when a country such as Kenya allows people who have corrupt records to vie for elective positions.

But in all fairness, Kenya is not doing too badly though.

The police, Office of the Public Prosecutor, anti-corruption agencies such the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission need to live up to expectation and shame the devil of impunity.