We need political goodwill to fight corruption

The resignation of former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru has led to many opinions.

Some people are suggesting a full investigation to establish her role in the National Youth Service projects scandal, while others are accusing those who called for her resignation of persecuting and hounding her out.

After all is said and done, the fact remains that it should not be business as usual in public procurement and expenditure for it is not only the Devolution Ministry that is guilty of misuse of public funds; many others are tainted.

Kenyans have complained that although the current administration promised zero tolerance on corruption, Kenyans are yet to see resolve match action with words.

The people linked to corruption are not solely to blame; the system has created avenues for misusing public money.

Kenya has a highly qualified work force, unlike many African countries. The current Cabinet secretaries are highly qualified.

The Constitution stipulates that they should not be active politicians.

As the situation stands, even if all the Cabinet secretaries linked to misuse of public money are replaced, we will still end up in the same situation, committees to fight corruption and the Public Officers Ethics Act notwithstanding.

COALITIONS PROMOTE TRIBALISM AND BREED CORRUPTION

During the drafting of the current Constitution, there was a clause discouraging coalitions.

However, politicians went ahead and deleted this provision.

There has been a lot of debate in the ruling coalition about employing people from certain communities to public office and leaving others out.

It is not possible for any public officer to serve two masters — his political appointing authority and Kenyans.

Politicians would want public officers to advance a certain political agenda.

When it comes to procurement and tendering, only those connected to the ruling regime will be given contracts to enable them to make money for the next elections or be compensated for their support of the regime during the last campaigns.

We need political goodwill to fight corruption. Having rules to fight corruption that in practice are not applied is an illusion.

We need to do an impact analysis on each public project before and after completion.

Some projects are conceived and disguised as development, whereas in reality they are conduits for siphoning taxpayer money.

Nobody has ever been conclusively prosecuted for the Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing scandals although those mentioned as being involved stepped aside for investigations that were never completed.

These gimmicks to appease Kenyans just to cool down tempers only turn Kenya into a country that is under the rule of men and not the law.

READ MORE: Mwiraria faces arrest over Anglo Leasing scandal case

Mr Momanyi teaches at Strathmore University.