New laws have boosted the war on corruption

The zeal to fight corruption in the Kibaki government is driven by a passion to ensure his legacy is not tarnished by the vice.

It is also given fresh impetus by the need to finance the Budget deficit and ensure public coffers are not looted ahead of 2012 General Election.

Political analysts and economists said the President and Prime Minister Raila Odinga had been emboldened by the new Constitution which lays special emphasis on integrity of public officials.

Mr Mugo Kibati, the director of the Vision 2030 secretariat says: “I think the President is reminding Kenyans that we are in a new constitutional dispensation which demands accountability.”

Mr Kibati, a member of the National Economic and Social Council, adds: “The President is also responding to the mindset in Parliament which is waging a crackdown on graft.”

He also notes that the President “seems keen to leave government a cleaner place.”
The  fight against corruption, he says, is key to achieving Vision 2030.

Corruption concerns especially by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, have denied government access to billions of dollars in loans and grants by the European Union and the World Bank. Although Kenya finances a huge part of the budget by itself, a large proportion of the money has come through infrastructure bonds which have turned out to be expensive.

The government reckons that if it can tackle corruption concerns, it will be cheaper to finance large infrastructure projects.
Concerns over corruption have also slowed down the release of aid already committed for projects. As a result, the government only spends 50 per cent of what donors give in a financial year.

The government is also looking for a more reliable source of cash to complete the last phase of the stimulus package unveiled by Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta in the last budget.

World Bank country director for Kenya Johannes Zutt, said although the recent resignation of two Cabinet ministers was commendable, the real fight against corruption lies in detecting corruption when it occurs.

“There is no better deterrent to corruption than regular professional audits — particularly when audit results are shared with the public, which can then help to hold errant officials to account,” he said.

Evidence of corrupt behaviour, according to the World Bank official, should be handed over to prosecutors, who must pursue corruption cases aggressively to the full extent of the law. He said that judges should have the courage to convict, when the facts and law require it.

Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala welcomed the resignation of leaders suspected to have been involved in corruption. The church leader, who chairs the National Anti-Corruption Steering Committee, yesterday said there were signs of political goodwill to fight corruption. Nairobi lawyer John Mureithi Waiganjo said the new Constitution had given impetus in the fight against corruption.

Moi University lecturer Kipchumba Murkomen said presidents usually stamped their authority during their second term in office unlike in first when they still need support and this was what Mr Kibaki was doing.

By Gekara Mayaka, Lucas Barasa, Kaburu Mugambi and Jaindi Kisero