Corruption Has to be Tamed for Progress to Occur

By Soko Directory Team / Published January 7, 2016 | 10:01 am

Corruption. How do you pronounce this term? You can choose to pronounce it sarcastically, reverently or pathetically but no matter how you choose to pronounce it, it simply produces an image of economic turmoil, failed states as well as glaring poverty among the majority.

Corruption is evil. Even those who engage in it know that it is evil but as Pope Francis, during his maiden visit to Kenya puts it, corruption is like sugar, sweet but harmful. In the past few months, especially the better part of 2015, numerous cases of corruption were reported within the government. The opposition and the civil society came out, guns blazing, calling on the government to take action in an effort to tame corruption.

The emerging realization that only four percent of more than one thousand cases of corruption were recommended for prosecution in 2015 leaving out 96 percent to go unprosecuted, the Public Service Commission has said.

According to the commission, a total of 1,131 cases concerning corruption were reported last year but only 50 were recommended for prosecution but even with those 50 that had proceeded to prosecution, there was no convictions.

Many analysts have blamed the lack of political goodwill to tackle the menace of corruption in the country. Corruption cases and allegations have always been turned into political contests where both the ruling party and the opposition try to outdo each other in trying to convince the public on who is right and who is wrong. What many do not realize is that within that political storm over the issue, those who might have taken the public money for their own personal gain are usually somewhere enjoying with a grin. After every argument between the ruling party and the opposition on corruption, things usually turn back to normal as if nothing had happened with no one held accountable for the alleged mismanagement of the public funds.

Among the high profile cases concerning high ranking officials in the government, almost all of them have been dismissed for lack of evidence like those of former Cabinet secretaries Charity Ngilu, Davis Chirchir, Felix Koskei as well as former Immigration head Jane Waikenda.

Corruption in such institutions such as the Kenya Revenue Authority are hurting the economy of the country because that is exactly where the taxpayers money go before being dispatched to other areas.

Article by Juma Fred.

About Soko Directory Team

Soko Directory is a Financial and Markets digital portal that tracks brands, listed firms on the NSE, SMEs and trend setters in the markets eco-system.Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/SokoDirectory and on Twitter: twitter.com/SokoDirectory

View other posts by Soko Directory Team