Kenyans must change mindset in the war against corruption

By GathenyaNjaramba

In the war against grand corruption, we must keep scouring the ground until where the rubber touches the tarmac.

It does not matter how many layers of sleaze we must sort out, since the vice is a matter of life and death.

Corruption kills jobs, businesses and people. Were it not for the conniving public officials, there could be no hunger in the north as food rots in some granaries.

Were it not for some itchy fingers at key ministries, we would not have to seek higher education or treatment abroad.

Were it not for the thieving road engineers and contractors, our infrastructure would be the envy of many African countries.

Were it not for the ineptitude among policymakers, public schools would not have become so unattractive to so many parents.

Were it not for those won over by notes-waving pirates, we would not be crying foul that the real estate industry is ‘no longer really Kenyan’ per se.

In a nutshell, corruption has stifled our country’s chance to enter the ‘dance’ of developed nations.

We have mortgaged our nation’s growth to not-necessarily the highest bidder, but the one who crumbles the note in one hand and doles it out discreetly.

However, as 2011 trudges on, Kenya’s resolve to clear the dirt is unstoppable. Not even the straws of "our community or party is being targeted" will save the corrupt from drowning.

Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Director PLO Lumumba has Kenyans’ unequivocal support.

When PLO was named head of the anti-graft agency, he minced no words, vowing he would go for the ‘big fish’ with the same zeal as the ‘small fish’.

Many thought he was not the first to use the language of combat and could easily be swallowed by the perennial cycle of impunity.

But after the latest ‘high voltage’ prosecutions, where the mighty are hounded in court, Kenyans now believe in the ‘karate kid’.

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But when did the slaying of the dragon begin? In 2002, President Kibaki romped into power on a huge promise to fight corruption. Many Kenyans voted for him solely on that solemn pledge; zero tolerance to corruption.

Later, President Kibaki appointed respected anti-graft crusader John Githongo, the first ever ethics and governance permanent secretary.

Githongo’s brief was to advise the President on how to tackle corruption.

Githongo was not only allowed instant access to State House, but his office was within Kibaki’s hearing. But as times went by, a new cabal of hitherto justice crusaders put their itchy fingers into the public till.

They became overnight billionaires and assumed the tag of the ‘untouchables’. Some thought Githongo, being a ‘home boy’ would look the other side. Others had the temerity to tell him to ‘go slow’ on some matters.But the ‘home mboy’ pulled the first trigger on the new lords of corruption and did what became famously ‘a Githongo’ on the establishment.

On this side of the new dispensation, PLO has done remarkably well. He has sent shivers down the spine of many and the writing is on the wall.

From the high-flying ministers to the village CDF managers, PLO is not sparing the rod for the corrupt. Some have even suggested he should get powers to repossess ill-gotten wealth.

Ultimately, as Kenyans, we should reflect on how we lead our lives and deal with one another. Individuals, like you and me, fuel corruption where there is a giver and the taker, the one soliciting a bribe and the one seeking a bending of the rules.

As Vision 2030 Director Mugo Kibati ably explained at a recent media workshop, Kenyans need to redefine their value system and ask what they can do today, individually, to improve quality of life in 20 years from now.

We are at time when our public and private discourses are deeply steeped in corruption.

It may seem easy to assign blame on graft to elected leaders and forget our roles. Finally, as PLO elicits exultant cheer and agony in equal measure, it is time for personal soul searching.

The writer is a Sub Editor at The Standard