Both the government and opposition have failed to tame corruption

Runaway corruption seems to be a cancer in the public service in Kenya. Just before the dust could settle on Justice Tunoi and Nairobi governor Dr. Evans Kidero after an affidavit implicating them, the infamous NYS scandal resurfaced. This comes days after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) absolved former Devolution and Planning cabinet secretary Anne Waiguru of any liability. This time round, even the political elite have not been spared.

The implication of key government figures and allies to the ruling coalition puts the government on the weighing scales of probity as far as wedging war on corruption is concerned. The criminal resignation and negligence with which the government has responded to corruption scandals rubs the Kenyan public the wrong way and more fundamentally on the incompetence of the executive and its commitment to fighting corruption. The president has declared his turpitude on the rooftops time without number, it is now time to pounce.

The president cannot go on lambasting Kenyans for being corrupt and yet, he still has the instruments of power to deal with corruption head-on. It is irresponsible, shameful and immature for the executive to impudently lament about the scourge of corruption just like any other local ‘mwananchi’ instead of ensuring prohibitive intervention. The president has been on record asking Kenyans abroad to be good ambassadors of the country, worse still a country that runs on the wheels of corruption. There is no way one can be a good ambassador of a bad country.

The government may have failed to tame the rising cases of corruption in the country, but then the opposition has not done any better. The role of the opposition is to provide alternative leadership to the government of the day, but rather has been on a campaign mode ever since the last general elections, endeavouring to gain political mileage out of every scandal. This is tragic!

Corruption is expensive

Corruption has made it very difficult for people in Kenya, especially the youth. It is a highway to raking in billions of money but only and only when you enjoy political patronage. One cannot enjoy certain government services or even win the 30% tender reservations for the Youth, Women and People with Disability (YWPD).  This is unless they part with some money, or they know people who know people or at one time they have rubbed shoulders with the high and mighty in the society.

Investors are scared not by the high cost of doing business in Kenya, but by the cost of having to part with some money to keep their businesses alive. The very existence of such a business that thrives on the wheels of corruption threatens its own sustenance.

The ripple effects of corruption have been very expensive. Corruption has widened the gap between the rich and the poor, increased the cost of living, lowered standards of primary, secondary and tertiary education, led to poor healthcare and inaccessibility to social amenities. Corruption affects all areas of the economy and if not dealt with, then the vicious cycle of poverty is not about to end soon.

Opposition myopia

The opposition has been very instrumental in exposing mega corruption scandals in this country. Let’s give credit where it’s due. However still, exposing corruption is not enough. Instead of using such scandals to gain political mileage, the opposition should provide alternative leadership. There is more that they can do than just political bickering.

Worse still, their focus has been on the government and yet members of the opposition have been adversely mentioned. For instance the likes of Nairobi governor Evans Kidero and Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula who are alleged to have in one way or the other been involved in scandalous business practices while in previous regimes. Corruption cuts across the political divide, it does not know who is Jubilee or CORD.

Collective responsibility

It is clear that corruption cannot be fought only by certain individuals or institutions in this country because of certain challenges some which may be beyond control. The purge against corruption is our collective responsibility as patriotic citizens of this country. We need to reaffirm our fidelity to the ideals and wishes of our founding fathers and rise up to the occasion to do the needful and cure this country of the social morass that is corruption.