This was the looting week. We hadn’t even digested how NYS Season II had somewhat surpassed season I or what’s really going on at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), and now the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is probing the biggest corruption scandal yet at the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). The scandal involves a whopping Sh. 70 billion.
What’s perhaps interesting is how majority average Kenyans only whistle at the thieving on overdrive as they shake their heads in disbelief. But you can’t blame them seeing as only 2.89 per cent of formal sector employees in Kenya earn more than Sh100,000 per month according to a Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data.
If more than half of formal sector workers (64.5 per cent) are living on low wages of between Sh20,000 and Sh49,000 according to the same data as reported by Business Daily, it’s understandable why the public can’t seem to wrap their heads around Sh. 70 billion.
It’s easier for such a populace to get angrier at the teacher from Wakaela Secondary School, in Machakos County, who was sentenced to six years imprisonment for soliciting and receiving a bribe of Sh10,000. Never mind the average Kenyan wouldn’t ask why those stealing millions were getting lenient sentence-in the rare case that they get their day in court.
With such a financially demoralized population these talks about people stepping aside and polygraphs and ‘fresh war on corruption’ won’t cut it.
What’s even more absurd is how all arms of government are shouting themselves sore when the remedy is right there before them. The Chief Justice promised corruption cases will be prioritized and disposed expeditiously; warning corrupt judges.
Members of Parliament on the other hand are talking tough; particularly watchdog committee chairpersons, and others are proposing new laws. Kiharu MP for instance is proposing life imprisonment for those found culpable while nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura moved a motion to have those found guilty executed in public.
Meanwhile the Executive under President Uhuru and his Deputy Ruto have perfected the act of getting angry and issuing fresh threats with every fresh scandal. If one was to do a research on newspaper headlines on corruption since 2014; one would be surprised at the number of headlines capturing the President’s anger and his decision to quash corruption. It’s like a circus.
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