Elect leaders of integrity, PLO urges Kenyans

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 30- The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) is asking Kenyans not to elect leaders with questionable integrity as they will only serve to impede development and service delivery.

KACC Director Patrick Lumumba said the country must eradicate corruption within its circles in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He argued that African states would never develop as long as monies meant for public development were incessantly swindled by fraudulent persons.

"With the 47 counties, I pray and hope that the governors to be elected in 2012 will not have as the first item on their shopping list, the governor's mansion. That they will instead remember that Kenyans are looking for delivery of services," said Dr Lumumba.

The KACC Director further reiterated his past remarks saying the commission had renewed its resolve to fight graft at all levels. He held that it was time for Africa to rise up against the corruption and waste that continued hindering development.

"Ethics is key in the development of any nation because as we speak 40 percent of African wealth is outside of Africa, stacked away by greedy men and a few women in little islands whose only claim to fame is that they are the hiding havens for those who reap where they have not sown," he said.

The commission has already written to foreign missions and embassies asking them to provide mutual legal assistance for the repatriation of billions of shillings stashed abroad as recognized under the United Nations Convention in addition to the African Convention.

The KACC has so far sought assistance from the United States, Swiss authorities and the UK's Serious Fraud Office.
Dr Lumumba also explained that it was time for Africans to restructure their education systems in order to fit into the current trends.

"Why is it that so many years after the attainment of political independence with so many young men and women having acquired formal education both locally and abroad, Africa still has a sad story to tell?" he quipped.

Dr Lumumba who was speaking during a training session for students at Strathmore University added that the lack of faith among Africans for their own also served as a deterrent to the continent's development.

"Prof Ali Mazrui once said that Africans produce so many doctors but when their leaders or men of wealth are sick, they seek not treatment from their doctors whose names are preceded by the title doctor or Professor?" he posed.

He also called on African states to extend their education facilities because education remained one of the drivers for the achievement of the MDGs.

"In our country today we boast of over 13 universities both public and private in the sciences and the arts while Uganda boasts of an equal number as do the South Africans and many other African countries," he observed.

Dr Lumumba further asked the country's lawyers to break down the new laws for Kenyans in order to empower them.