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:
- Equip every major hospital with life-saving machines.
- Pay every doctor and nurse their rightful dues.
- Fund the construction of 20 well-built bridges, improving transport for farmers.
- 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 noos