Fight culture of giving bribes, not just taking

As stakeholders gather at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre for an annual integrity review, it is essential to focus attention on the role the average citizen plays in initiating or perpetuating corruption. A review of what Kenya is doing to fight graft and encourage good governance shall be incomplete if it focuses entirely on change in enforcement agencies, the Judiciary, Parliament, investigative bodies, local authorities, central Government and so on.

The theme of the International Anti-Corruption Day, marked this afternoon with an exhibition, points to the direction where we must expend more effort: ‘Corruption! Your No Counts’. Fighting petty corruption will require the national strategy to incorporate measures aimed at discouraging rampant bribery.

Most bribery is an attempt to speed up inefficient processes or avoid penalties for petty offences. Improving the delivery of services and justice will help end this if followed by years of education.

To end the ‘push’ factor in high level corruption will be harder to do. The ethical, legal, managerial and other measures taken to end corrupt practices must consider what must be done to discourage firms from offering bribes.

Graft Cartels

Blacklists, fines and jail terms have to be introduced and used if we are to succeed. The focus on public officials alone allows graft to thrive by removing those who get caught but letting those that offer them bribes tempt their replacements. The ‘No’ that counts is not just that of the taker but of the bribe giver as well.