(sent by Nicholas Mireri) 

Corruption tops voters’ agenda in December poll

Written by Mwaura Kimani (sent by Nicholas Mireri)  

October 31, 2007:

Despite reeling from a continued wave of commodity price increases, Kenyans believe corruption and not the high cost of living is their biggest concern, a new survey shows.

Graft has surpassed insecurity, poverty, unemployment and poor infrastructure, shows the findings of an Infotrak Research and Consulting survey commissioned by Africa Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG) - a local anti graft lobby.

Eighty-nine per cent of the 2,400 people interviewed countrywide said they were dissatisfied with the Government efforts to fight graft.

The respondents say the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission -  still smarting from recent attempts by Parliament to curtail its powers -  has been unable to prosecute key personalities charged with financial impropriety, in the war against graft.

As a result, the survey “Corruption in Kenya 2007” says, culprits of the biggest financial scandals that drained billions of shillings from the public coffers had eaten into access to essential amenities such as health care and affordable education.

The survey cites scandals such as Anglo Leasing, Ndung’u Land Report, Goldenberg and Kroll Report.

Since the beginning of the year for example, fuel pump prices have surged by a margin of Sh10, accounting for Sh6 of the overall rise. Last week, it hit a new high in Nairobi at an average of Sh86 per litre of premium petrol.

The impact of the surge has been felt across the economy, where it has piled pressure on consumer goods prices at a time when the Government is facing an election and President Mwai Kibaki seeking a second term on the platform of sound economic management.

Bread prices have risen from Sh24 to Sh30 due to an acute wheat shortage while a 120 per cent excise duty on plastic packaging of the commodity will drive prices to Sh35 on average for the 400gms loaf of bread.

AfriCOG executive director Gladwell Otieno said taxpayers are yet to feel the return on investment that they expected to get in terms of amount of public money acquired through corruption that KACC says was recovered.

“Kenyans are optimistic that the war on graft will be taken a notch higher given the pressure from both taxpayers and lobbies on the need for change whichever candidate takes over power in January,” said Ms Otieno. MPs moved to amend the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003, leaving  KACC tooth-less in  fight  against graft.

However, President Kibaki rejected the amendments which would have curtailed KACC powers to investigate grand corruption committed before May 2003.
Over the last four years, taxpayers have spent nearly Sh5 billion in the war against corruption.

Over the next three years, the government plans to spend Sh4 billion on KACC alone.

While the new survey shows 49 per cent of respondents would accept a bribe offered by a candidate, Mwalimu Mati, the managing director of anti-graft body Mars Group, says poverty had driven Kenyans into this.

The nationwide survey shows 80 per cent of respondents will not vote for a candidate who bribes them with either cash or gifts.

 But a fifth stated that they would vote in favour of an aspirant who offers them money or gifts.

Among the key actions suggested by the respondents in tackling corruption are recovery of illegally acquired property, proper  vetting of Government officials and removal of public officers under investigation on corruption.

 
Kenya Anti Corruption Commission headquarters in Nairobi