Corruption: It’s time to stop the ping pong

The fortunes of one of Kenya’s iconic enterprises, Uchumi Supermarkets, best illustrate how greed and corruption can tear apart an institution. Forensic reports show how those charged with the leadership of what was once the biggest retail store in the region plundered and then left it for dead, literally.

There are ongoing efforts to resuscitate Uchumi. It started with the change of management, which saw Julius Kipng’etich, famed for turning around the fortunes of Kenya Wildlife Service, taking over as CEO. Meanwhile, Government’s plans to give a Sh2 billion bailout are at advanced stage. Uchumi’s fall has all the hallmarks of a mismanaged business that often ends in loss of livelihoods and disrupted careers.