corrupt
By Odhiambo Jerameel Kevins Owuor
Worth Noting:
- Kenya dropped a point from its 2022 score of 31 to a score of 30 in the latest Corruption Perception Index report making the corruption profile worse than it was in the 2020 research.
- Ideally, 31 is Kenya’s lowest score since 2012. Historic scores on the Corruption Perception Index have been 28 (2019), 27 (2018), 28 (2017), 26 (2016), 25 (2015), 25 (2014), 27 (2013) and 27 (2012).
- The Transparency survey measure bribery, diversion of public funds, officials using their public office for private gain without facing consequences, ability of governments to contain corruption in the public sector, nepotistic appointments in the civil service, and laws ensuring that public officials must disclose their finances and potential conflicts of interest.
In its simplest definition, corruption refers to dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery. According to Transparency International, corruption is the abuse of power for private gain. Collins Dictionary defines corruption as dishonesty and illegal behaviour by people in positions of authority or power. Corruption takes various forms and can include behaviours like; public servants demanding or taking money or favours in exchange for services; politicians misusing public money or granting public jobs or contracts to their sponsors, friends and families; corporations bribing officials to get lucrative deals. Corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, poverty, social division and the environmental crisis.
An annual report by Transparency International last week ranked Kenya as the 25th most corrupt in Africa, with its worst score since 2012. Transparency International is a global body that exists in 100 countries to end the injustice of corruption. The body focuses on issues with the greatest impact on people’s lives and hold the powerful to account for the common good through advocacy, campaigning and research. The body works to expose the systems and networks that enable corruption to thrive, demanding greater transparency and integrity in all areas of public life. The body has an overall mission. The vision is to live in a world in which government, politics, business, civil society and the daily lives of people are free of corruption by all means.
Generally the public service Corruption Perception Index report observed that a majority of third world countries are struggling with corruption with the vice growing stronger each day. Each country’s score is a combination of at least three data sources drawn from 13 different corruption surveys and assessments. These data sources are collected by a variety of reputable institutions, including the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. Experts and business people then use a scale of 0-100 to assign a score with the most corrupt being ranked zero while the least corrupt countries are assigned 100.
Kenya dropped a point from its 2022 score of 31 to a score of 30 in the latest Corruption Perception Index report making the corruption profile worse than it was in the 2020 research. Ideally, 31 is Kenya’s lowest score since 2012. Historic scores on the Corruption Perception Index have been 28 (2019), 27 (2018), 28 (2017), 26 (2016), 25 (2015), 25 (2014), 27 (2013) and 27 (2012). The Transparency survey measure bribery, diversion of public funds, officials using their public office for private gain without facing consequences, ability of governments to contain corruption in the public sector, nepotistic appointments in the civil service, and laws ensuring that public officials must disclose their finances and potential conflicts of interest.
The scores above really depict the real situation in the country. We are treading on a dangerous ground and surely who will redeem us? Let’s ponder on that question for a bit. In the words of John Maxwell, everything falls or rises on leadership. John Maxwell was of the informed view that the leadership determines whether an organization or nation steers forward or veers off the right track. Corruption being a menace is a reflection of us as a society. The rot generally is from the society we can’t just blame the leadership for after all they are a perfect testament of us as a people.
Let me now stop lamenting and giving solutions to the subject matter in this article. The first way of fighting Corruption in Kenya is to build capacity for those who need it most. To fight corruption effectively, you must make the people within your organization, department or ministry aware of their roles and responsibilities and those of other staff members. One of the best ways of curbing corruption in Kenya is to increase transparency and accountability by giving details on how public funds are being used. You have to ensure that this information reaches as many people as possible. The more work you do transparently, the more people know how public funds are used. Transparency will ensure that no one person has complete power over public resources. It also provides that every Kenyan is equal under the law.
When we understand that corruption is not just about bribes, we will be on the right path to fighting corruption. To fight Corruption in Kenya successfully, you must consider that people at all system levels are corrupt. These people include ordinary citizens as well as politicians and civil servants. Corruption can be perpetrated at all levels of society, not just by senior officials. The fight against Corruption in Kenya will be more effective if citizens are vigilant and know the proper channels to complain.
Another prudent means to combat corruption is to make sure that those engaging in corruption never get away with it. A key example those who were alleged to have been behind the massive looting of Covid funds till now are yet to be punished. What message is the government sending to the masses? That those who are connected to those in government can get away with anything and are protected. Yet many lost their lives and even such funds could have improved healthcare services in the country. That’s Kenya for you. To this end, the government should by all means be steadfast in ending this menace. Perhaps, arresting these folks will send clear message unto the rest. There is need for political goodwill to ensure that corruption is mitigated to the lowest levels.
As well there is need to involve all and sundry and not just to the government or Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission or Director of Public Prosecutions. This society belongs to us and it is incumbent upon us to make sure that the environment is prudent for our own use and the use of the future generations. By combating corruption we will be creating a safe environment for us and the future generation. Everyone whether a politician, civil servant or ordinary citizen has a role in fighting corruption.
Moreover, there is need to Ensure that informants who report corruption are protected from the consequences of revealing this information. Take a case where a senior government official reports on wrongdoing within his department. When this person is not protected from the effects of this action, he will not report the corruption to you again.
Odhiambo Jerameel Kevins Owuor is a law student at University of Nairobi, Parklands Campus. He regularly comments on social, contemporary, legal and political issues.
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Kenya built a currency control before it needed one
- Katiba@16: What the constitution has meant in my own life
- Chelsea agree deal to sign Martínez from Aston Villa
- Ochieng’ makes his mark at the Bernabéu
- The unfinished covenant: Operationalizing Articles 48 and 54 in Kenya’s Construction Adjudication: A call from the concrete barricades
About the Author
