Government doublespeak disheartening

The kind of doublespeak coming out of top Government officials concerning the war against corruption is painfully draining.

The latest are the measures agreed upon in the recent meeting called by President Kibaki. What a waste of time and money!

These people think that Kenyans are helpless fools. The President keeps mouthing great things about fighting corruption but whenever the opportunity presents itself for some action that would inspire the whole country, he goes mute.

Then Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno comes out to tell us they will have a training on integrity for Government officials before assuming duty. However, integrity is not achieved by ‘training’. It is one of those values we cultivate inwardly.

What these public servants need is not training, so they should not waste our money on it. They already know the right things they ought to be doing. Maybe what they need is prayers, which many religious leaders can offer free of charge.

But where people fail to cultivate integrity, what we need are strong laws and institutions that will make it unattractive to be crooked.

For those who still manage to get past the systems, the possibility of being caught should be real, and the consequences after that quick and painful. Only these measures will keep evil hands out of the public purse.

A training on integrity. How ridiculous!

{Lucas Owako, Eldoret}

The recent remarks by Prime Minister Raila Odinga that the Government should know those involved in the smuggling of the arms cache uncovered in Narok were perturbing.

The Prime Minister should remember that he is one of the principals in the Grand Coalition Government. So, which Government was he talking about if not this? The two principals should take charge and stop passing the buck because they are accountable to Kenyans.

In the war against corruption, the duo should sack the Education minister and his PS to allow for investigations. The two professors should also be prosecuted if found guilty of impropriety.

If they fail to do this, then we get the message that they condone corruption and they don’t have the best interests of children at heart.

Will Kibaki allow his only successful project to go to the dogs?

{Chadwick Onyango, Gem}

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