We must fix integrity or we go down as society

 Integrity is more of a punishment than a virtue. [iStockphoto]

Doing the right thing at the right time and in the right manner seems to be a difficult thing for many Kenyans. Integrity is more of a punishment than a virtue.

In a televised interview, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairperson and the Chief Executive could not defend the existence of Chapter Six of the Constitution on integrity in light of the candidates cleared to contest the August 9 elections.

That means miscreants and those who should be spending time in jail are shouting themselves hoarse to convince voters to elect them.

Some of these candidates are masters in forgery, others are tenderprenuers, some have serious cases in court but they are unashamed. And they will be elected in droves.

The recent athletics mess that almost saw Kenyan star Ferdinand Omanyala miss out on the World Championships boils down to integrity.

Africa’s fastest man was to watch the proceedings from his home in spite of putting in the hours to bring home a medal. Ministry of Sports officials and Athletics Kenya bosses owe the country an explanation on what transpired.

Omanyala got his visa and is expected to land in Oregon two hours to his race. We wish him well as he carries the country’s flag high.

The examples are many showing we have dropped the ball on matters integrity. It, however, is not late to redeem ourselves as a society.

The first step will be to pick the best candidates in the elections. Carefully studying manifestos interrogating candidates’ past will be the first step in fixing the dearth of uprightness.