Corruption is a national security threat

The National Ethics and Corruption Survey 2015 released by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) this week is a damning indictment of the national and county governments.

It is apparent that corruption has become an incurable cancer. To quote Chief Justice Willy Mutunga‘s recent comment, “Kenya has become a bandit economy where corruption pervades all levels of society. “

The explosion of corruption in the national and county governments in recent years, speaks volumes. Economic crimes in Kenya have become a national security threat.

The government agencies constitutionally mandated to fight corruption like EACC and Director of Public Prosecution seem overwhelmed by the menace. Arguably, the economic downturn can be attributed to corruption scandals like Goldenberg, Anglo Leasing, Chickengate, NYS and Youth Enterprise Fund among others.

The time to exorcise the ghost of corruption is now. There should be no sacred cow in the fight against graft. Kenya should abhor corruption to restore dignity internationally or it becomes a hotbed of graft.