How corruption helps to spread joy in lean times

I hear there isn’t much happiness in our land, from those who are in the strange business of measuring happiness, and it’s because our people are upset because corruption has become a way of life.

And now that we’re in the thick of an election year, Kenyans, young and old, have packaged themselves as crowds for hire, and will happily pocket thirty pieces of silver from the same politicians they will accuse of bribery and seek to vote out in five years.

I think it makes a lot of sense to accept bribes because if you don’t take someone else will. And the money has been stolen from public coffers anyway. But one has to go the whole hog and concede that if Kenyans generally give or receive bribes, then it should be a source of joy for them too.

So, they should forfeit their right to complain about corruption. What they should insist upon is a bigger share, which could potentially give them higher satisfaction levels, hence more happiness.

And if polled while savouring the fruits of corruption, they might feel better about their circumstances, however temporarily.

Thinking about corruption, large and small, all government services that require photocopying of materials allow private citizens to open shops next door and charge exorbitantly for the service. Why isn’t copying added to official charges and rendered by the government?

Well, perhaps because it’s wise to spread out the dough and allow a modest trickle to the ordinary man in the streets. Makes them happy!