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written by Tim Norwood , March 14, 2007

The very fact that we were deluded into thinking that Mwai Kibaki, Moi's main man of many years and a faithful servant of old Jomo (who looked up to the old man and continues to do so) would ever champion a war against corruption- shows you the real disconnect between our expectations and reality.

Now you read on these pages about infantile hopes that Uhuru Kenyatta will lead a war against corruption, or that Raila will crusade for the poor man. The question as always - relevant also in the thread on women in leadership - why does anyone have to wait to get into an elevated office to act?

Surely, if Raila gave the slightest damn about the people of Kibera or Nyanza we would have noticed by now, even through our notoriously prejudiced glasses!

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written by aeichener , March 14, 2007

What we see now, is the sad sight of corruption fighting back, and quite successfully. Only massive foreign political pressure (read: a brutal choking stranglehold on the government's throat by the donor nations) can continue the fight. I hope for it.

Alexander

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written by Newafroguy , March 14, 2007

Andrew

Spot on! But our hypocrisy and double standards as a people are perhaps our biggest indictment due to our complicity.
As one may have noted, the current regime's abetting of corruption and corruption related agenda is being shrugged off as "few mistakes", completely disregarding the importance of such an issue on the national psyche and poverty eradication as a whole.
We should have kept up the tempo just as in the Moi days. Persistence pays. Future leaders need a precedent showing our resolve as the electorate to demand action and enforce accountability. Merely hoping that a messiah will arise as a leader is a long shot.

Every journey begins with a st
written by Job , March 14, 2007

The first step towards the journey to fight corruption is to indict and kick-out any corrupt regime anywhere near power, irrespective of who is heading it, period.

The peoples firing pen is their votes.

People must appreciate that they have to sacrifice certain things to achieve bigger goals. Sacrificing the tribal thing during elections to achieve
control on corruption is inevitable.
We can't have it both ways, always voting in "our own" and fighting corruption at the same time.

If "our own" has genuinely shown they can't fight corruption, then it's time for change.

People should understand the connection between corruption and tribalism. It's good to acknowledge the trickery and treachery used by corrupt billionaires who have stolen from public funds.

They will always run back to their tribes during elections crying ati " we are being finished" whereas such gullible voters never benefitted from a penny of the loot.

They must know that it may be better to vote out corrupt leaders from our own communities so as to save and direct public funds towards badly needed services that benefit us all
personally at the grassroots.

Looting mandarins from our own communities almost always keep the loot far away from reach of local authorites,...in the past in Switzerland and today in the Far East and South-East Asia. Such looting never benefits us at all.

The suffering masses and victims of corruption must not tire. Firing
(voting out) corrupt regimes is the
first step.

Next is limiting the amount of public funds in one hands or jar. Public coffers must be devolved into smaller coffers earmarked for various regions aka devolution of resources. It comes concurrently with devolution of power to govern such resources.

Thus the next step would be to agitate for an overhaul of governance aka constitution change -to devolve power and resources away from one centre down to the regions of Kenya.

The current leadership loathes prospects of both steps taking effect since it would basically mean
voting them out then spreading out
public resources and in effect reducing amounts available for grand looting by the President's men.

What the current "rulers" hope is that wananchi's aspirations run through frustrations and fatigue,...to
enable them slide back to power (using
the we-are-being-finished cry) and continue business as usual. Folk must not fall for that trickery.

A peoples struggle must not be ladden with pessimism and despair. The first step is to kick out any regime that proves it's not commited to fight graft then continue piling pressure on the alternative governments to enact a new constitution that is spelt out by the people.

If Goldenberg brough down the Moi machinery, then failure by Kibaki
to prosecute Goldenberg culprits and
entry of Anglo-Leasing must be strong basis to indict him at the ballot, tribalism aside!

Any prospective governments must
also appreciate as a new way of life, wananchi's resolve to take a no-nonsense approach to corruption and bad governance if we are to make any positive steps forward.

Going by history, it is the failure of people to exert their total resolve through prompt VOTING OUT of corrupt regimes, that has led to the current impunity and "Kichwa Ngumu-ness" by incumbents.

The opportunity to teach such regimes a lesson by the people is very much underway coming at the end of this year. Just vote them out without first looking ati which tribe is this new guy I am voting for.

When the current regime is voted out largely on account of corruption, tribalism etc,...then any future regimes must think twice if they wish to continue with corruption as its engine and mantra.

That would teach a lesson or two, to sly pretenders and fake reformists who turn around as soon as they taste State largesse. Do the names Kiraitu Murungi, Rev. Mutava Musyimi or Kivutha Kibwana ring a bell?

Alexander,
I think it would be a long shot waiting for foreign donors to correct our local problem of corruption. As a matter of fact, just how much are they loaning to us currently?

Haven't you lately heard the arrogance and impunity spewed out by incumbents who brag about,.."we don't need any donor money to fund our government since revenue collection has increased"....the salient message is this,....."we still have enough billions to loot raised from tax revenues!"

The point is that people have the power to enforce accountability and demand action themselves through their
inherrent voting rights.

All they need to do is exercise it wisely, without retreating to "our own tribe"! That will be a positive first step.

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written by Amir Ibrahim , March 14, 2007

Job, the assumption implicit in your comment is that the people do not 'want' these leaders but are somehow beguiled into voting for them.

Supporters of thieves like Kibaki or Moi or Raila or Ruto, or the sons of thieves like Uhuru and Gideon (who have both added to their already colossal fortunes by dipping into the collective cookie jar) are not necessarily fools. When you read a hagiography of Kibaki's like Doris Sadera's elsewhere on this website, it is not ignorance that you see, but rather a refusal to see.

The other factor is that Anglo-Saxon politics are an expensive affair. Even if many Americans agreed with the sentiments of a politician, if he could not project himself into their living rooms and hire the best in PR and muscle he has no chance of winning an election, compare Hillary and Obama.

The same happens in Kenya, for all their good intentions, people like Wanyiri Kihoro simply cannot afford to win massive elections. The Executive Presidency makes it even more impossible.

The most daming quote ever, glasses raised to supporters of the President,

January 20 2005
Once again, they (Kiraitu and Murungaru) were clear that the security related projects that were the subject of so much controversy were for political financing purposes all along. Hon Kiraitu and Hon Murungaru demonstrated no concern that I would report this matter back to His Excellency the
President. The evidence had been building up but with this final approach, they let their guard down. By coming to me knowing full well I had direct access to the President meant they were not at all worried that I “would report them to the President”.
Hon Murungaru pointed out that His Excellency the President had once been Minister of Finance and understood how these things were done.”

Consensus?
written by mzalendo , March 15, 2007

So far there seems to be a consensus about my opinion re: "my vote". I would therefore like to urge those of you that strongly share this opinion (Job did a great job of outlining what the voters' power is and what needs to be done) to take one more step: keep a close eye on the presidential contenders and see who would BEST represent the interest of the mwananchi... share what you find as we approach election day. We need to keep this dialogue burning as our hope lies in being well informed, in order to place the top candidate in office. Thx.

Education! Education!
written by obamab , March 15, 2007

Well corruption does not start at the top, it starts at the bottom. In a society where corruption is not accepted or readily frown upon, there we can expect the leaders of the society not to be corrupt.
In the Kenyan experiment, it would be next to impossible to expect the leaders who are exposed to all the loot not to be corrupt. Why would we expect this with the Kamau and Wanjiku out in the streets readily giving up bribes and being extorted?
To change the mentality of corruption, Kenyans should attack it at the base, make people understand that is not necessary to give bribes, make sure the wananchi convicted of bribery either accepting or giving are charged publicly. This education is the only thing that would change Kenya as far as

...
written by Stephen Wanyama , March 15, 2007

W won Florida in 2000 because among other factors, many voters who were disgusted at Clinton's hypocrisy, kow-towing to big money and general shady behaviour, decided to vote for Ralph Nader, a good man with a good platform but little money. A true waste of time.

This year the gods have decided that Hillary will triumph in the Democrat nominations, and an emollient Obama will try to win them back. Those with eyes will remember that the Clintons were thieves, they will remember the fact that Clinton killed many more Iraqis than Bush ever did, they will remember the Clinton's stealing and lying ways, they will remember the Clinton's slavish support for war-mongering, her nationalistic hectoring with regard to the ports deal or even the racist attacks her people are making on Obama and may end up voting independent.

Then maybe Giuliani will enter the White House, and the dark curtain will come down even lower.

Money talks!! Privilege rules, the poor voice is only heard when it is cheering on its oppressors.

rabble rouser
written by kamau , March 15, 2007

I don't see any of them seriously committing to fight corruption given that they are its creation. You can't have the mongoose guarding the chicken shed. The fight has to be fought outside the government with a mass movement type of operation similar to the one that agitated for multi party politics. Eventually the government will have to capitulate.

I also believe that the Kenyan populace has never really owned up to their role in corruption. They are only against it when someone else is doing it, there is a very serious disconnect between our actions and our beliefs. When a vast majority of the population still frames corruption in ethnic terms, I would not hold my breath.

Vote? Vote For Whom?
written by Dan Kihote , March 17, 2007

Thank you undecided voter for your opening shot. I am told that real undecideds who come out openly are an endagered species so you are certainly my Hero(ine).

Unlike the good Job and Mzalendo above I fear that our vote is as useless as a bull's udders. Voting in december will be an exercise similar to whipping a bucket of water and hoping that it will thicken like cream.

You ask us to vote out useless, corrupt and incompetent leaders. These there are many. We can only do so by voting in replacements. Unless a third force comes into the equation at the eleventh hour to deliver us from the cluches of the two opposing sides, we will see no significant change and it will be business as usual after profound, moving and unbwogable acceptance speeches that will be delivered on the day following the elections. I would rather sit and watch the sheep grazing, to be honest.

I am reminded of a Martin Luther King speech where he laments the situation at the time where Southern Negroes had no vote and those in the North had "nothing for which to vote"