Fighting corruption in Kenya

Aug 22nd, 2008 12:48 PM EST
By Chris Scott

News of a great development in Kenya ran on the BBC.com and in other media outlets earlier this week. On Wednesday, anti-corruption czar John Githongo returned to Kenya after four years of self-exile. During his tenure as Kenya’s secretary for ethics and governance, Githongo earned the reputation for being tough on corruption— in 2005, one of his investigations forced the resignation of several ministers over a scandal that involved state contracts worth more than $1 billion being secretly awarded to non-existent firms. After exposing the scam, Githongo fled to the UK because of threats to his life.

Githongo’s return is an important step forward for Kenya’s new coalition government, which was put in place after controversial elections set off two months of violence earlier this year. He is back for only two weeks, but his return (at the invitation of the new government) is hopefully a sign that Kenya’s new government is serious about tackling corruption and addressing some of the underlying issues that caused the election crisis. Speaking to the Kenya Human Rights Commission on Wednesday, Githongo submitted the controversial proposal of offering amnesty as a means of closing old corruption cases and moving Kenya forward.

Whistle-blowers like Githongo are vital to beating poverty in Africa and across the world. The fight against corruption and efforts to promote transparency and good governance help ensure that aid is spent well and channeled to the people who need it most. ONE is also proud to note that John Githongo currently sits on our Policy Advisory Board and serves as an important advisor on issues of accountability and governance.

Excerpt below, full piece here.

Addressing a public forum on fighting graft in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, Mr Githongo said economic crimes must be resolved quickly and transparently. “The temptation to subject economic crimes to prolonged processes and the deliberation of committees not only delays justice but makes ultimate accountability less likely,” he said. Mr Githongo noted that there was a myth that corruption does not really matter as long as the economy is growing. “If you have high economic growth [and] a high level of corruption… then corruption causes political contradictions that leads to the kind of difficulties we had in Kenya at the end of last year,” he said.

-Chris Scott

TAGS: Corruption, Governance and Security, Kenya, ONE, Transparency International

6 Comments

Rogersays: Aug 22nd, 2008 6:02 PM EST

August 22, 2008 at 6:02 pm

Very interesting

Paul of Par Avionsays: Aug 22nd, 2008 6:14 PM EST

August 22, 2008 at 6:14 pm

Amnesty is such a great idea. Another wonderful example of “right thinking,” in my humble opinion. To rise above the instinctual urge to punish, for the good of a larger group of people. Corruption removal as the ultimate cause, rather than quenching a desire for retaliation.

It’s as relevant to the conversation of Rwanda as that of Kenya.

Are we interested in the short-term satisfaction of seeing some we may have good reason to be angry with punished, or are we more interested in the long-term good?

We need more people like Mr. Githongo, not only in Africa, but in South America, and in so many countries where a governmental culture of corruption takes resources from the people for the benefit of a few.

But it’s the idea of amnesty — the focus on improvement of the governmental system, even if it means making some concessions to our gut desire for punishment, even when we have cause — that strikes me as the true power behind Mr. Githongo’s current approach.

“To retaliate with hate and bitterness would do nothing but intensify the hate in the world. Along the way of life, someone must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate. This can be done only by projecting the ethics of love to the center of our lives.”
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

iwillsays: Aug 23rd, 2008 11:00 AM EST

August 23, 2008 at 11:00 am

Are you kidding?

This election is over. The party and Obama will pay heavily for his abysmal judgement in selecting someone with all the charisma of an aging, verbose, prep school spoily…who has a well documented record of plagiarism and other dishonesty.

My choices are now between McCain and Nader.

Debbie Kreusersays: Aug 23rd, 2008 1:34 PM EST

August 23, 2008 at 1:34 pm

Biden will do nothing for Obama to pick up votes in the South, South West and Mountain States of our country.

Those areas of the country have historically shown that they will not vote from candidates from the North East of the USA – especially liberal candidates.

Thus – Barack’s choice. (lol)

As much as I like and respect Sen. Biden for his excellent leadership on PEPFAR and other programs to support our movement to end extreme poverty, this choice makes no ultimate political sense for a Democratic win in November the way things stand today.

My opinion – and I will stand by it. But I won’t debate or argue about it. I have more important things to do.

ALWAYS FOREVER, ONE – debbie
http://www.mpwn-uganda.org