Containing corruption in public office proving a tall order for us

As has been our tradition, this year’s Transparency International’s global corruption perception index ranked us at 139 out of 168 countries, confirming that we have maintained our position as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. This status is probably not doubted by most Kenyans because we live it. Last week, the President quipped that he watched a police officer pocket a tip from a motorist in Mombasa. It surprised no one but himself; others witness it routinely.

The Kanu regime was bundled out power by the masses because of massive corruption in government, including the Executive, Judiciary and the legislature. The successors, President Kibaki’s Narc regime, outdid Kanu. Despite a surgical surgery of the Judiciary, corruption expanded as abuse of office and nepotism rivaled grand scums such as Anglo-Leasing. Jubilee took over with the cartels intact. President Uhuru has announced severally that he will dismantle these cartels but to no avail. To his credit, he sent hundreds in the executive packing but old habits die hard.