Graft
in Government begins with elections
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Updated 3 hrs 28 mins
ago
Ultimately, elections
should be won on a level playing field where, all the key factors being
constant, the best man or woman gets the ultimate prize.
However, as we all know,
this Kenya and nothing on the ground is really as good as it looks on
paper. As report in this newspaper today, the 2007 elections were largely
rigged in advance through the buying of voters’ loyalty, sometimes from as
little as Sh100 or less.
It is a vindication for
those who maintain that what happened on 2002 was a paper revolution. The real
revolution that was meant to usher in a new dawn was stolen by wolves in
sheep’s clothing.
Politicians across the spectrum and in every
village went out of their way to but influence using money that was either
stolen from public coffers through corrupt deals, or secured from donors with
dodgy backgrounds, including drug traffickers.
Ever wondered why Kenya has become a “Narco State” — the nickname
give to a country whose economy is dominated by drug money — then wonder no
more. The culture of corruption begins when that young man or woman makes the
first decision to step into politics.
Initially, he might have the fire to serve the public interest, to
make the lives of people in his community better.
Imagine, then, his rude awakening when he discovers that to make
it in politics in Kenya you must have one of two things: a godfather or loads
of cash.
Both have the power to corrupt one’s morals and ideals. The first
ensures you are predestined to work according to a prepared script, which is
more often than dictated by corruption.
The second can only be achieved in two ways. One is to borrow the
money from a bank, which means mortgaging the family jewels.
The other is to get financing from “dirty” businessmen and
lobbyists who finance the candidate’s bribery-fuelled campaign and grease the
right palms to ensure your victory.
Once elected, you are enslaved to their interests and have already
understood the benefits of falling in line.
Should you become a minister, you are in a prime position to push
for them to get fat State contracts and in return for a percentage of the fee.
cycle of greed
Because our MPs have invested so much money
and time to be elected, their main goal has become to make as much money as
possible within the five years they are assured of being in office.
It is an unbroken cycle of greed that began with a few of our
founding fathers who appropriated for themselves and their kin much of the land
the colonialist took by force from Kenyans.
From that time, a seed was planted, one that spawned a line of
corruption that has been near impossible to break.
Every time there is a chance for a
generational change, the corruption networks, which are embedded in Government,
have moved quickly and ensured no the one who steps into State House will
protect their interests and the ill-gotten wealth.
They have lived off the fat of the land and the sweat of hapless
Kenyans for so long, they cannot imagine sharing any of it. One of the
big businesses in Kenya today that operates out of the radar of Central Bank of
Kenya and Kenya Revenue Authority is laundering of dirty money.
Drug money has built high-rise apartments, schools, supermarkets
hospitals and funded the campaigns of many of those leaders now promising
Kenyans heaven if they vote them into State House.
How can this cycle of corruption be broken? It is hard but as time
goes on the new Constitution is slowly changing the way we view public office.
The politicians are today seemingly too powerful and moneyed for
the Judiciary to have an impact, but there is hope that as the new laws are
implemented, albeit at a snail’s pace, our children’s children will dance to a
different tune.
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