Kenya's anti-corruption crusaders hold a demo. PHOTO | FILE
Sources of campaign funds has put Kenya’s opposition and the
ruling Jubilee Party on a collision course, with claims that businessmen
linked to financial scandals that cost the country billions of
shillings are actively involved in mobilising campaign resources.
The
National Super Alliance (Nasa), which has been vocal on the war against
corruption, has found itself between a rock and hard place, defending
the role of businessman Jimmi Wanjigi, a wheeler-dealer accused of being
the architect of key financial scandals in previous governments, in its
campaigns.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy
William Ruto have told opposition leader Raila Odinga to remove the
proverbial log in his eyes before accusing the government of abetting
corruption.
The war of words between the two parties
has propelled the anti-corruption crusade to the top of the campaign
agenda. Tellingly, the manifestos launched last week detail various ways
each team hopes to employ to end corruption if they win the August 8
election.
Nasa,
led by Mr Odinga, has pledged a raft of measures to stem corruption,
among them blocking civil servants from doing business with the
government and pushing for a Bill in parliament to fast-track payments
to contractors.
“A strong commitment to fighting corruption will facilitate
reconstruction of the national psyche and bring about a shift to servant
leadership at all levels of governance, for the well-being and benefit
of all citizens,” reads the Nasa manifesto.
The Jubilee
manifesto promises to expand the capacity of Judiciary to conclude
hearing of corruption cases within six months and push for harsher
penalties for economic crime offences.
In addition, Jubilee said it will invest in technology to allow release of details of tenders awarded and their beneficiaries.
President
Kenyatta’s administration has been hit by several mega scandals where
taxpayers’ funds running into millions of dollars were embezzled, yet no
high-profile conviction has been made.
Some scandals which have shaken the regime are an unaccounted for Ksh5.3 billion ($50.3 million) at the Ministry of Health;
Ksh791 million ($7.97 million) skimmed off the National Youth Service
and the so-called “hustler jet” aircraft that was hired for Mr Ruto’s
shuttle diplomacy at a cost of $1 million.
Last year,
President Kenyatta sacked Cabinet Secretaries Kazungu Kambi, Charity
Ngilu, Michael Kamau, Felix Koskei and Davis Chirchir after corruption
allegations were reported in their dockets.
The
president has publicly admitted that corruption is rampant in government
but that his hands were tied by provisions in the Constitution to
punish the suspects.
Watchdogs The Open Society for
International Development and Transparency International say the war
against corruption has been lost.
“Over the past four
years, the seeds of corruption have grown into trunks of impunity.
Voters must choose county and national leaders with clean records on
August 8. Otherwise we should stop expecting mangoes from falling from
lemon trees,” Houghton Irungu, executive director of The Open Society
told The EastAfrican.
Transparency
International executive director Samuel Kimeu said Kenya’s ranking in
the war against corruption is not impressive at position 145 out of 176
in the Corruption Perception Index last year with a score of 26 points.
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