Kenya’s current economic crisis caused by corruption, says Nacada boss Mututho

NAKURU: The National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) has linked the current economic constraints facing the country to high rate of corruption.

Speaking in Nakuru, Nacada chairman John Mututho said corruption by state officers is draining the country's coffers adding that it was the high time the president cracked the whip on errant civil servants.

Mututho said it is not possible for Kenyan government to go bankrupt due to lack of trust, determination and credibility among her leaders.

"It is worrying we as a country have decided to disconnect ourselves to development and production related strategies to unnecessary arguments this is highly affecting economic growth," said Mututho.

Mututho said the government was very much dependent on borrowing instead of concentrating efforts in local generation of revenue.

He said that Kenya has a lot of economic potential compared to other African countries and as such the government should look into ways of tapping available resources.

The economic crisis he said has further affected a section of employees who are yet to receive their salaries and nobody is coming up with a solution or an alternative.

"As a country, we cannot pin ourselves to politics, scandals and abusing each other instead of consolidating ideas for development and unity," he said.

According to him, the government should find a balance between development and borrowing in order to avoid situations in which major cash demands like increment of teachers' salaries fail to be met.

At the same time, he asked politicians to paint Kenya positively more so the opposition to woo investors in various sector instead of negative energies.

The former Naivasha MP also cited his worries on lack of employment for the youths noting that majority turn into drugs and alcohol use.

"About 50 per cent of youth abuse drugs and alcohol due to frustration that comes with lack of employment despite having attained academic qualification in various fields," he said.

Nakuru County KNUT executive secretary Kuria Njau on his part faulted the government for wastage reported in various ministries and county governments.

Njau said despite the country lacking money to pay to frustrated teachers who have not received their September dues, it is planning on projects that are not helpful.

"The government should admit it has no money. this is worrying for instance various employees have not received their salaries for instance teachers who are forced to teach on empty stomachs," he observed.

He added that there is non-collection of revenue by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and theft witnessed by various Cabinet Secretaries who are not accountable for various projects.

"KRA officers are not collecting revenue and if so, they indulge themselves in corrupt deals with business operators because we all pay tax to the government. Where does the money go to?" he posed.