Stop comedy shows, fight corruption

It is saddening seeing the latest actions and reactions of the Jubilee government’s leaders and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) with regards to the activities surrounding the Eurobond scandal.

From the outset, let me point out that it is hypocritical for the ethics body to harass whistleblowers and intimidate witnesses without going for the actual culprits. This trend has the likely effect of undermining the war on corruption which is their ultimate brief.

It is even more worrying when the government, instead of producing bank statements detailing Eurobond transactions and availing the list of projects possibly funded by the proceeds of Eurobond, instead resorts to name-calling and branding of whistleblowers as economic saboteurs and/or rumour mongers.

A short while back, Kenyans were treated to such drama when the former Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Raila Odinga’s insistence that money was indeed stolen at the Devolution ministry turned out to be true. It seems that this government is now in the habit of eating its own words.

The National Youth Service saga ought to have provided a perfect learning opportunity on how not to respond to allegations that are true. Despite treating the allegations by Rt Hon Raila Odinga as falsehoods, that they turned out to be true and over Sh2 billion is now recovered speaks a lot to the direction this Eurobond investigations should proceed.

In fact, the ethics body, the Criminal Investigations Department and other arms of government paid from the public coffers should apologise to Kenyans for sleeping on their job or looking the other direction amidst massive looting despite the huge perks associated with their offices.

That it takes the opposition leader to blow whistles on such magnitudes of stealing only for EACC to turn to him for information while ignoring leads is akin to chasing the wind while ignoring the real thief. That it takes an outsider to reveal the rot in the systems is testimony to the death of Kenya’s value system, the failure of institutions and the collapse of the rule of law.

Outright denial that no money was stolen by the government each time a lid is lifted on suspected corrupt dealings has consistently left this government with egg on its face when those allegations have turned out to be true. It is unimaginable what the government will say when it turns out that the Eurobond cash was actually stolen. But going by history, one can quickly tell the trend.

A few junior officers will be arraigned in court, relieved of their duties, part of the loot recovered and the media arraigned to have that as headline news and the story ends there. Most of the money will have been stolen, no prosecutions recorded and people will continue to eat. Ours is a country of tales and wonders indeed. Ours is a country where hard work does not necessarily lead to prosperity, but stealing rewards absolutely.

Ours is a country where whistleblowers are admonished and harassed while culprits whistle their way to the bank. Ours is a country where speaking about stolen funds amounts to destabilising the government and spreading rumours. Kenya yetu ni nchi ya ajabu kweli!

George Muluan Omondi is the MP for Alego-Usonga Constituency.