Lack of accountability, integrity in public service breeding corruption

The rising impunity by those in public service who are expected to safeguard our resources and provide services with utmost humility, accountability and integrity has eroded public confidence. The growing anxiety is fueled by pervasive mega corruption and apparent indifference by those we elected to rule over us. Corruption exists in every society but in varying degrees. What irks Kenyans is the brazen plunder and looting of public coffers, the frequency with which it occurs, the sheer amounts of funds involved, and the impunity with which those implicated are often unwilling to take responsibility. Worse still, most get a slap on the wrist for the vice, if at all!

The Kanu administration was bundled out of power because of corruption. It had reached dangerous proportions and Kenyans simply stood up to vote it out. The electoral process is an exercise in vertical accountability that citizens can exercise when their elected leaders fail the accountability test. The Jubilee administration should be worried. The talk of a super alliance may just get the impetus it needs by coalescing around this issue as the Narc team did. Corruption thrives where there is limited or no accountability.