President wrong to blame institutions for runaway graft

Well, the President is at it again. Complaining about corruption. He complained of massive corruption in his office in 2014. He did it in a foreign country, Israel, in February this year, accusing Kenyans of being ‘expert thieves’ who are good at ‘complaining’. He warned that corruption was now a threat to our national security. This week, he did it again, in a public forum, complaining and blaming it all on the independent watchdog institutions!

The President’s spat with these officials was misplaced, and lacking foresight. These institutions are mandated in law to enhance accountability, and are independent of the Executive; but more importantly, he ought to cultivate their support and confidence. Berating them in public, and telling them off on their approach to their duty has the opposite effect. He rightly praises his security forces always in public, whatever the circumstances; even when they talk of ‘burning mattresses’! Similarly, he ought to stand with these institutions however critical they may be of his administration.