Change comes so slowly we often miss it. This has been the case throughout the years anywhere on the globe. For what seems like eternity Kenya has fought relentlessly against corruption without much tangible result. One wondered whether we would ever win this war. Attempts from leaders to weed out the vice were half hearted at best, and even when cases were investigated and/or taken to court, little ever came out of it. Hardly did we prosecute, let alone convict any big fish, somehow they always emerged innocent and promptly resumed their duties. And even the few who did not resume had the freedom to go home and enjoy their loot, while working in numerous other establishments in all manner of positions. No one went to jail or paid a fine unless they were really junior officials. How can there be so much corruption, and yet so many innocent people, one wonders?
Now however, with a new face at KACC (Kenya Anti Corruption Commission), a new and ever growing cry from Kenyans, a new Constitution and a new determination, we are beginning to see ruffled feathers at the very top. We are beginning to feel like big fish are not only being caught, but might actually go all the way to the cells and/or hefty fines, as well as returning to the Sovereign State of Kenya all the monies and property they have looted and stashed away in foreign accounts. We see more and more of them actually appearing in court; we see them being forced to resign, under the Constitution, once they are charged in court; we see them ‘stepping aside’ or whatever that means, once cases of corruption are credibly brought against them.
Of course, the real test is in what finally happens in these investigations, prosecutions. Will someone actually be found guilty, will someone pay for the crimes committed against hardworking Kenyans, many of whom are wallowing in poverty because someone helped themselves to their hard earned public funds? Is this finally it or yet another higher-level attempt to hoodwink Kenyans and make them believe something is being done against corruption while nothing ultimately changes? We sure hope not. We hope the KACC boss and his team are indeed serious and will go all the way, stopping at nothing, to give Kenya the corruption free breathing space we have craved for so long.
Indeed it is rare to find someone who, in the first place, is not afraid to take on the big wigs in this noble fight. On that front we finally have a breakthrough; the new KACC Director does not seem afraid of any of them, and if he can weather the storm as I’m sure it’s already brewing against him somewhere, he just might be the man who leads this Nation to a new fair and just dispensation.
Curious indeed how cases of corruption in Ministries and government Parastatals are often proved, but somehow the Minister and often the PS or Parastatal boss are almost always innocent of the crimes. Really, give us some credit and let people indeed carry their own cross and pay for either; not sufficiently and efficiently supervising their ministries or departments; not putting in place foolproof policies to prevent fraud; not implementing existing government policies that would otherwise prevent fraud; or being themselves directly or indirectly part and parcel of the fraud in question.
In a new Kenya the Hague is no longer a distant possibility to be kept at bay through numerous attempts to scuttle the ICC process. No; the Hague is so real that those implicated are now yielding themselves, something which, if you know anything about Kenya, is hugely unusual. We prefer to hide as far as possible and hope we don’t get caught. Even behind our tribes and allies if necessary. Now however the ground is so hot on all fronts that they are coming out shouting without much prompting at all. Be that on corruption or the journey to the Hague. At least the message is getting across; in a new Kenya we will not tolerate impunity of any kind, from any person whatsoever. I’m sure we’ll be hearing much more on these issues in the coming days.
Any person who thinks they can play the game like it has always been played is out of touch with the new reality and has been left behind by the Kenyan populace. We gave our leaders the benefit of the doubt for too long, and they effectively took advantage on gigantic proportions. Now we know something we didn’t, and we will not let anyone take it away from us. Names, Parties, Tribes and Alliances mean little henceforth. We want justice and we want it now. We want a country and we want it now. We want a future and we want it now.
Yes, change does come, but not without cost. I don’t think any Kenyan will claim any of this has been easy. It has not been a walk over; blood has been spilt or simply drained over this; many of us have bent their backs to sustain these high profile vices; our economy and environment have deep scars to prove it; and a nation that should long have matured is still languishing at the bottom.
But dawn is here, and once we’ve tasted it we cannot let go. We cannot go backwards to where we came from. And no one will stall this forward march, and that is a simple fact. Hopefully no one will want to for progress is so much better than retrogressing, equitableness better than the deep divide between the haves and have nots, peace so much better than strife, and prosperity for all better than poverty for any Kenyan. A country with a high quality of life is our goal and desire, and at this rate we will get there soon enough.
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