Corruption in Kenya requires complete change of culture

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> </xml><xml> Normal 0 21 false false false SW X-NONE X-NONE </xml><xml> </xml> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} </style> All actors should strive to bring about a quiet revolution in public attitude towards corruption.

It is easy to feel ambivalent about Kenya. In my experience, the people are outgoing, warm and welcoming. They exude confidence and pride.

For the scholars, racial chauvinists and friends of Africa who sometimes feel compelled to combat misguided stereotypes that the continent and her people are helpless and hopeless, nothing could serve as a stronger counter than witnessing ambitious, vibrant and entrepreneurial Kenyans going about their daily lives.

Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Kenyans exhibit fortitude and persevere with great resilience. Unfortunately, the same characters who make Kenya appealing make it loathsome. Corruption in Kenya has been embraced by most citizens and hated by all. Its effects cannot be overemphasized.

Anyone in Kenya has experienced the Kenyan traffic jam. Drivers aggressively attempt to circumnavigate the traffic, manoeuvring between the lanes, cutting off competing vehicles, driving on the ‘shoulders’ and frequently even racing between oncoming vehicles in the opposite lane; all the while cursing and condemning other drivers who resort to the same tactics.

The passengers exhort their drivers to take drastic measures to get them where they are going as fast as possible, even as they lament the whole spectacle. All involved appear to know that bad driving only worsens the traffic, but once others are doing it everyone feels compelled to participate or risk being overtaken, left behind and even squashed.

While corruption is much more complex than a traffic jam, Kenyans are participants wherein they are simultaneously the main victims and the loudest critics.

Corruption is among the vices at the apex in any society worldwide including Kenya that continue to cause unnecessary pain and suffering to innocent citizens.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Its adversities have caused a clarion call at national, regional and international levels for an immediate solution. Among them, Kenya has resorted to policy, legal and institutional framework to curb the vice.

However, this state approach has been largely unsuccessful in its quest as corruption shifts from benign to malignant. Adversities have also tripled with national values and principles being trampled upon like they don’t exist in the Constitution.

In the long run, the civil, political, economic, social and cultural status of a State and quality of life continues in tatters. This calls for an alternative and/or complementary approach to the fight against corruption.

Therefore, rather than the State approach, could the citizen/bottom up approach be the foundation of a long term anti-corruption strategy for Kenya?

The citizen strategy acknowledges that corruption is a two- tier relationship involving a giver and recipient. The former strategy focused on eliminating one party (the recipient) through the established institutions, laws and policies.

Therefore, the other party (the giver) who forms the root of the equation went scot-free pollinating an attitude and culture of paying for services that should otherwise be offered for free.

In the long run, the people have adopted the culture of giving bribes as a way of life hence promoting and sustaining corruption. This being the root of the menace, an anti-corruption strategy that seeks to neutralise the ‘giver effect’ or culture needs to be adopted.

So, are there any initiatives that can be adopted in Kenya and work? Yes.