Weekend Star Siasa
Date: 14.11.2015
Page 12
Article size: 215 cm2
ColumnCM: 47.77
AVE: 84088.88
KENYA FAST TURNING INTO A KLEPTOCRACY
f Uhuru Kenyatta administration
mass registration of NGOs and the spiritan
wishes to leave a positive mark
and evangelical churches since the 1990s.
in this country, the extensive
The NGOs and churches booming here
corruption we are currently
should be able to explain something. Both
experiencing must be brought to
appear to have been introduced for business
an end. The President recently
and not for God or for changing society.
said corruption is rampant in his
These organisations have totally adulterated
African communal volunteerism. For them to
office. Although he did not tell the
nation who the perpetrators are, he attract participants for their activities they
unveiled that indeed corruption is
pay what is known as 'allowances'. Without
deeply rooted; it rules the country,
being paid these allowances, members
and very little can be done about
of the community become indifferent to
this. That projected deep frustration participating in communal activities. African
on his part.
generosity as we know it is dead. Even the
Morality has been eroded in this country
government recently complained of lack of
and corruption manifests what Kenya is
transparency and accountability by NGOs.
quickly turning into. Every imaginable evil
reigns here as the country has become the Just the other day more than 900 NGOs
were threatened with deregistration.
centre of international crime. Every day we
Because of this situation, the government
hear of billions lost from some ministries
and the people are challenged to 'bite the
or from some mega project. Right here in
bullet' and declare an emergency to save the
Kenya, we have drug barons, international
criminal dens, global cartels, people involved country from collapse. I recall with bitterness
Kenyans' long suffering from the HIV­Aids
in human trafficking and above all is the
scourge as the government watched. The
presence of illegal arms and ammunition.
state completely ignored it and put Kenyans'
It is worrying to hear the proliferation of
lives on the line. After 19 long years, the
small arms in the country is escalated by
government declared it a national disaster
Kenyans themselves: fake policemen on
country became widespread. That appears
supply to government and rich corporations
to be back with us.
in energy, grain, medicine (drugs], medical
In those days, the top coordinated that
business. They scooped resources from the
public bowl, sharing the loot with the agents
equipment, arms and vehicles; and in some
situations aircrafts and their parts, patrol
who dealt with actual cash collections from
As Kenya submits to poverty, our leaders
are counted among the world's wealthiest.
As in the days of old, we need to declare
our country a kleptocracy. We need to
avoid waiting for and instead guard against
destruction by fearlessly reminding our
leaders that the country is in deep trouble.
On his part, the President should not simply
the councils, schools, churches, banks,
corporations, organisations and institutions.
Those dealing with public land became
targets for grabbers who took big chunks
and sold (almost forcefully] to government
corporations, banks and other firms
endowed with liquid cash. NSSF was one of
the few commonly mentioned for buying
land from individuals. There were feelings
then that the country was a professed
boats to mention a few.
assume comforts of the house on the hill
because there is life of an entire nation after
him. Over to you Mr President Sir.
kleptocracy.
Kleptocracy is a term originating from the
Greek words kleptes (meaning a thief], and
kratos (meaning power or rule]. It is applied
to governments which use corruption to
accumulate wealth and political power. It
involves embezzlement of state funds and
denying the public livelihood and service. It
is common with military rulers, dictatorships,
oligarchies and governments which practice
nepotism and those that are autocratic. Of
course Kenya is one of these. Government
in 1999. Many lives would have been saved
official duty and stylish mercenaries and
had steps been taken earlier. Instead, sadism, officials use the treasury as personal wealth,
persons of doubtful character posted as
spending its funds on luxury items. Most of
arrogance and a deep sense of hatred had
agents of top officials. In addition, torture
the funds taken from the country's treasury
engulfed our country.
chambers and killing dens have been found
are transferred to foreign accounts to
In 1994 for example, famine hit Kenya but
to exist in Kenya while strip clubs and
provide for them once they are out of power.
the government would not allow food to
brothels are now in every little estate and
That is kleptocracy.
be transported from one corner to another.
children have almost unlimited access to
Kenya is in such dire straits but our leaders
Food stores in Kitale were bursting with
pornography. State and society are both
are not bothered. Instead they have chosen
grain while people in the Eastern region
rotting at neck­breaking speed.
to seek personal gain while denying ailing
starved. Politicians thrived on creating need
When looking at religion, something does
retirees their benefits. They seek kickbacks
for basics in order to pacify the people for
not add up. This brings me to think about the
political gains. Theft and land­grabbing in the for awarding tenders and use proxies to
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