Kenya’s Silent Genocide: How Corruption, Incompetence, Conflict Of Interest Are Killing Us Every Day

We wake up every morning, make our way to jobs that barely pay enough for the essentials, and what do we hear on the news? Billions lost to corruption. Sh3 billion, to be exact, stolen every day by the very people we trust to lead us. And what do we get in return? No medicines in our hospitals, no teachers in our schools, potholes that could swallow entire cars. How are we okay with this? Let me break it down so we can see the truth we’ve been avoiding.

A Man Cannot Run While Carrying an Elephant

African wisdom teaches us that “he who tries to run with an elephant on his back will only stumble.” Our leaders are doing exactly that—loading themselves with stolen wealth while running away from responsibility. The result? Their stumbling is crushing us all. The Sh3 billion stolen daily isn’t just money. It’s the difference between life and death. That money is meant for medicines, but instead, mothers die in childbirth, children die from preventable diseases, and medical workers are stretched thin, exhausted, and unpaid. The ripple effect is clear: the looting directly causes death.

What’s the Cost of One Day’s Looting?

Imagine Sh3 billion put to good use for one day. Here’s what it could do:

1. Equip every major hospital with life-saving machines.
2. Pay every doctor and nurse their rightful dues.
3. Fund the construction of 20 well-built bridges, improving transport for farmers.
4. Build or repair roads to cut down on the accidents that kill thousands every year.

But no, instead of saving lives, that money disappears into offshore accounts, leaving us with nothing but broken promises and more funeral processions.

When the Fence Eats the Crops, What Will Feed the People?

We all know the proverb: “When the fence starts eating the crops, where will the people find food?” Our political class is the fence. They were supposed to protect us, but instead, they’ve turned into predators. Their insatiable greed means that the money meant to buy textbooks, pay teachers, and build classrooms is now their personal ATM. So, what happens? We have children learning under trees, and teachers leaving the profession due to low wages. Education becomes a joke, and the future of this country dims with every passing day.

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Nepotism: The Silent Poison

It’s not just corruption—there’s also nepotism, that silent poison. A proverb from Nigeria reminds us, “A goat that has a fox for a friend will soon learn to kill its own kind.” Our politicians have mastered the art of appointing their cousins, brothers, and sons into high-paying jobs with zero qualifications. And what do they do? They make sure nothing works. Contracts for road signage go to unqualified relatives, security systems are run by amateurs, and even agriculture, the backbone of our economy, is handed over to family members who know nothing about farming.

Incompetence Kills Like the Slow Poison of a Bad Marriage

The ripple effects of this incompetence are staggering. Farmers, the backbone of this nation, are left to struggle with poor infrastructure, lack of finance, and no government support. When farmers fail, we all fail. Food prices soar, and hunger becomes a real threat. What’s more? The money meant to build irrigation systems, construct roads, and provide subsidies for fertilizers is already gone—stolen by our “leaders.”

If You Want to Kill a Tree, Start at Its Roots

We’ve been watering the wrong tree for far too long. The Kenyan political class has deep roots, spreading corruption across every sector: education, healthcare, agriculture, and security. Their theft has weakened the roots of this country, and now the tree of Kenya is dying. We feel it in the dilapidated state of our hospitals, the crumbling roads, the poor quality of education, and the lack of support for farmers. Every Sh3 billion looted tightens the noose around our necks.

We Are Not Dying by Accident—We Are Being Murdered

Let’s be blunt: this is not just incompetence, it’s mass murder. The money stolen daily was meant to build bridges and roads that could have prevented accidents and saved lives. It was meant to pay security personnel who could have stopped the increase in crime. It was meant to provide HIV/AIDS medication, clean water, and sanitation to prevent diseases. But instead, people die because the money is gone. Politicians are literally killing us, and we’re letting it happen.

They Are Killing Us With Their Arrogance

“A drum that beats too loud will soon burst,” goes an ancient Ghanaian proverb. And hasn’t the arrogance of our political class reached a point of bursting? They flaunt their ill-gotten wealth in our faces, building palatial homes and sending their children abroad for education. Meanwhile, the average Kenyan can’t afford a decent meal. Their arrogance is insulting—while we struggle, they laugh, thinking they are untouchable.

The Domino Effect of Neglect: From Education to Security

The interconnectedness of their crimes is evident. When money meant for education is stolen, it’s not just the future of our children that is destroyed; it’s the very foundation of our nation. Ill-educated youths become vulnerable to crime, unemployment rises, and our security weakens. Without proper roads and signage, more accidents happen, stretching our already overstretched medical personnel. It’s all connected, and the root of it all is the Sh3 billion looted every day.

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How Are We Okay With This?

Why aren’t we outraged? Why aren’t we flooding the streets demanding that these thieves be sent packing? Perhaps we’ve become numb to the suffering, believing that nothing can change. But African wisdom warns us: “He who refuses to fight will forever carry the yoke of his enemy.” If we continue to sit in silence, the yoke will get heavier, the deaths more frequent, and the suffering deeper.

The Call to Action: Send Them Home!

The solution is simple, though not easy. We must send the entire political class home. We must demand fresh elections and choose leaders who prioritize the lives of Kenyans over personal gain. The looting must stop, and only we, the people, can stop it. It’s time to wake up. “A bird does not change its feathers unless it is ready to fly,” says an old African proverb. Are we ready to fly?

Here is an infographic representation of how Sh3 billion could be allocated daily to various critical sectors in Kenya. The pie chart shows the potential distribution across healthcare, education, agriculture, security, and infrastructure. Each sector could dramatically improve with just a portion of what is currently being stolen daily by corrupt politicians.

The Truth Hurts, But Silence Kills

The truth is painful, but silence is deadly. We can no longer afford to sit by and let this looting continue. The ripple effects are killing us slowly, one by one. We must stand up, speak out, and demand accountability. It’s time to do the right thing. Let’s send the thieves home and rebuild this nation for the sake of our children and our future.

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