Bouquets to those who made contribution, barbs to those who let us down

2019 is almost over and it is the season to honour those who have made a significant contribution towards making society better while throwing barbs at those who let us down. The first bouquet for 2019 goes to the Multi-Agency Team, the investigations and prosecution arms that have made some dent on the war against graft. It is easy to dismiss the ongoing onslaught against graft as politically biased. I would be the last to deny political overtones. We must however recognise that corruption in Kenya is so closely associated with politics that it is impossible to imagine a prosecution process that is totally blind politically. In any event, those who allege political bias do not generally argue that the allegations against them are flimsy, only that there are others who have not been charged because of their politics.

Of course we hope that the sword of justice will be unbiased so the war is sustainable. But we must not forget that at the time the renewed anti-graft war commenced, Kenyans' frustration was at fever pitch. A real revolution; not those social media ones that hardly go beyond phone screens, was inevitable had steps not been taken to show seriousness on the anti-graft war. Now, no one can doubt that the presence in court of several governors, several former Cabinet and Principal Secretaries and government honchos have given bought government some breather. The team deserves a bouquet which will become a barb if it turns out the prosecutions were without merit.