Containing corruption in public office proving a tall order for us

As has been our tradition, this year’s Transparency International’s global corruption perception index ranked us at 139 out of 168 countries, confirming that we have maintained our position as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. This status is probably not doubted by most Kenyans because we live it. Last week, the President quipped that he watched a police officer pocket a tip from a motorist in Mombasa. It surprised no one but himself; others witness it routinely.

The Kanu regime was bundled out power by the masses because of massive corruption in government, including the Executive, Judiciary and the legislature. The successors, President Kibaki’s Narc regime, outdid Kanu. Despite a surgical surgery of the Judiciary, corruption expanded as abuse of office and nepotism rivaled grand scums such as Anglo-Leasing. Jubilee took over with the cartels intact. President Uhuru has announced severally that he will dismantle these cartels but to no avail. To his credit, he sent hundreds in the executive packing but old habits die hard.

It is said that if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. Despite our efforts to slay this dragon, it would appear that we are getting sucked into it more. Allegations about involvement in graft by the high and mighty is no longer discussed in hush tones in coffee shops or diplomats living rooms but brazenly in the media. We have lost the battle to the extent that our leaders now cynically debate relative degree of the rot in their institutions in the media, or lament how cartels control their operations.

Sadly, corruption allegations are now a weapon used to silence an opponent, engineer an ouster or mudsling a leader out of office. Once you are painted with that brush, it matters little whether the claim is proved or not. Last year, the Executive lost hundreds of officials, many on mere allegations that were yet to be investigated. In the legislature, all are deemed to be greedy looters by the public, usually in the latter’s court. While it is true that both institutions have corrupt elements, the collective condemnation has only served to encourage the good ones to wonder whether being straight is perhaps being too naive.

Perhaps more unsettling is the latest claims in the Supreme Court about a US$ 2 million bribe. There is little doubt that justice is once again on sale to the highest bidder. The Chief Justice has oft-repeated that the institution is now open for that business again. But even before this allegation is investigated, we have convicted the judge in the court of public opinion. Worse still, our lynch mobs even allege that the whole court shared in the purported loot and should quit. Judiciary has not been spared our usual “politricks” and intrigues, especially in the light of impending succession battles.

As George Orwell said, during times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. In our corrupt culture as a nation, there are few people in positions of power who can be trusted. The end justifies the means, as long as the public remains gullible. In the process, we are killing our institutions credibility and their ability to serve the citizens. No one doubts corruption permeates our society; we are jinxed. But we must resist the attempts to condemn everyone unheard, and allow institutions their due processes.

We may not exorcise this evil of corruption from public service overnight. It is said that corruption exists whenever government has favours to extend or something to sell. However, the less we trivialise this vice through idle talk and tittle – tattle, the more it takes root.