How impunity and corruption fuel disasters and claim Kenyan lives

Kenya has witnessed many disasters and calamities, but 2024 has been particularly precarious and catastrophic.

The calamities include drought, floods, road accidents, unrest and protests (opposition and Gen Z) both resulting from high costs of living, lack of accountability, human rights violations, bad governance, corruption, abuse of office and general mismanagement and electoral/political crises.

More deaths and destruction emanated from traffic accidents, arson/fires, burst dams, and human actions. Almost all of these though partly natural, have human causes or failure to prevent.

Climate change, bad city planning, lack of drainage/blocked drainages by roads, bypasses or county governments inaction or negligence, corruption, abuse of office or arrogance/hubris, licensing of construction in water catchment, riverian and riparian areas and collapsed buildings, fires/arson, and other criminal activities are some of what bad leadership, bad governance and corruption invited.

The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) reported that between 1 March and 18 June 2024, an estimated 315 people were killed, 188 injured, and 38 missing, while more than 293,200 people (58,641 families) were displaced and nearly 306,520 (61,304 families) affected by heavy rains and floods.

On April 29, 2024, a devastating debris flow from the bursting of Old Kijabe River and a dam in Mai Mahiu swept away hundreds of people, livestock and personal belongings - overturned vehicles, destroyed homes and uprooted trees. The death toll and destruction were devastating. Over 2,407 people lost their lives through road accidents from January to July 7, 2024, with over 10,166 others nursing injuries from an estimated 11,502 crashes, according to the National Transport and Safety Authority.

Many more accidents have claimed more lives with at least 6 school children killed on September 13, 2024, in a road accident along Mutomo-Kibwezi road. Lives lost in vain with those culpable getting away with minor punishments if at all. Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura reported that 21 children were burned to death in a Hillside Endarasha Primary School dormitory housing 156 boys aged between 10 and 14 in Nyeri on September 5, 2024, and investigations are ongoing.

Three children died in a fire incident in Nyakairo in Naivasha on September 13, 2024, and four people were killed and three others rescued, on the same day after a sewage line collapsed in Shauri Moyo, Nairobi.

These are consequences of corruption, bad governance and bad leadership. The shocking revelations of Shakahola massacre have been replaced by new catastrophes. What is constant is the devaluation of the lives of Kenyans including the lives of our children. It is incredible to see the rising number of deaths and destruction of innocent children’s lives and yet they expect protection and care.

The way we are dealing with questions of allegedly big corruption cases like the unfolding Adani deal, government-to-government oil and edible oil scandals and many others will also have devastating consequences in the near future. It was shocking to witness the report of mega corruption cases and land grabbing by known people on TV in which the EACC handed recovered stolen deeds and ownership documents to the President.

The mess in the education sector and indecisiveness in our unions are matters of concern on the best way forward. UASU has called for a nationwide strike in public universities on September 18, 2024, because of non-payment of CBAs and the negative effects of the new university funding on some public universities.

Although a few public universities have embraced and are implementing the new funding model others are experiencing incredible challenges that are negatively impacting university education. There is a need for the Ministry of Education and the Government to seriously address crises in public universities and the education sector to ensure the future of our children and guarantee them fundamental constitutional rights.

We need a serious leadership and governance audit to punish and end impunity. It is incredible how the rule of law and good governance are no longer imperatives and leadership integrity is only a concept and a suggestion in our Constitution.