President Uhuru Kenyatta's undertaking to implement fully the recommendations of a report on the state of corruption in the country opened a new chapter in the war against the hydra-headed monster. The report compiled by a team from the private sector and Government makes far-reaching recommendations.
Indeed, more was needed to shore up waning public confidence.
Coming against the backdrop of the resignation of embattled Cabinet Secretary for Devolution, Anne Waiguru whose ministry has been in the news lately over allegations of graft and shady procurement deals and the loss of Sh791 million at the National Youth Service, this represented a new beginning in so many ways.
The ceremony at State House yesterday emitted powerful symbols: it signalled a closing of ranks between the various arms of Government and the private sector who previously traded blame over what has clearly and constantly crashed the promise of a new Kenya.
In essence, yesterday marked a turning point. By declaring corruption a "national security threat" Mr Kenyatta trod where previous administrations dithered and vacillated with neither a plan nor a mission; just a raft of half-hearted measures. There was hope that the adoption of a new Constitution in 2010 with a whole chapter devoted to integrity would mark a new beginning. That has not happened. Naturally, to imagine, as many Kenyans did that a progressive Constitution would bring a new order where impunity and corruption would vanish on its own was to stretch hope too thin.
In truth, public coffers have seemingly become slush funds for politicians and the ruling elite. Corruption and bad governance is expensive for all of us, especially the poor; it denies 250,000 youth job opportunities each year according to the World Bank; it inconveniences and generally slows the economic wheel.
And granted everyone suffers from the inconveniences of poor public services, lack of clean water, unreliable electricity, unresponsive security system, poor roads, a run-down health system and a mediocre education system. The measures announced will certainly make it painful to engage in corruption. It seemed at some point that we were inexorably sliding into a deep pit where graft, patronage and feigned ignorance was becoming a way of life.
Commendably, some of the measures include fixing the lopsided procurement processes that account for nearly three-quarters of all corruption incidences in public offices. Yet the report does not stop there. It specifies clear sanctions for those who willfully engage in the vice.
As Chief Justice Willy Mutunga noted: corruption is death, a disaster and an emergency that must be fought hard. The onslaught against corruption must be sustained and relentless. And not just with hard blows. indeed, there is so much that good laws can do. In fact, the reports by the Auditor General to Parliament provide endless lists of companies and individuals with dodgy dealings with public monies. Yet that has not stopped the cartels from dipping their fingers into public coffers.
One soft way is to make corruption look and smell bad. All Kenyans must hate corruption. They ought to be pained, disgusted, and repulsed by those who steal from them. Just like Mr Kenyatta did, they ought to say enough is enough.
That means doing away with the pervasive culture of anything goes. And upholding public leaders who recognise their fiduciary duty to the public.
The Standard Group Plc is a
multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper
print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key
influence in matters of national and international interest.
join