What pulls us back all the time is our corrupt mindset
Former Anglican Archbishop Eliud Wabukala (left) is sworn in as Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chairman at the Supreme Court in Nairobi on January 23, 2017. With him is Ann Amadi, the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary. PHOTO | DENNIS ONSONGO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- A lot has been said about the achievements or lack of them on the part of this commission and the drama that has emanated from its operations since its formation.
- The most important thing about all this is that the culture of corruption is a reality in this country and it will take quite some energy and determination to uproot it or at least to bring it to controllable levels.
Last Sunday, I celebrated the elevation of retired Archbishop Eliud Wabukala to the chairmanship of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. A lot has been said about the achievements or lack of them on the part of this commission and the drama that has emanated from its operations since its formation. The most important thing about all this is that the culture of corruption is a reality in this country and it will take quite some energy and determination to uproot it or at least to bring it to controllable levels. It is accepted the way people interpret events, other people’s behaviour and the like are determined by their worldview. This worldview is, in turn, shaped by a people’s culture. Whatever meaning they attach to whichever reality will be dependent upon the database in their minds as dictated upon by the worldview their culture has generated.
It seems that, for some people, elections are about cheating. Look at the whole debate surrounding the IEBC. The commissioners who were in place have been thrown out – through mass action by the opposition – and new ones named. Names of the commissioners are usually agreed upon by Parliament and a certain tribal and regional arithmetic is taken into account as they are appointed. But no sooner are they in office than we hear all sorts of things about rigging. At the root of all this is the belief that nothing can be done straight without some form of corruption.
NEGATIVE THINGS
The minds of the majority of Kenyans are corrupt. This is why a lot of negative things that even ordinary citizens can prevent continue to happen as we watch. The drug problem is a case in point. It is good to see that things are beginning to happen at a very high level in this regard. Some four men have been extradited to the US to face drug trafficking charges. Why has the drug business gone on for so long while so many Kenyans – and particularly the young – continue to go to waste? It is all because of our inherent corrupt mentality. Such an industry would not survive without the support of a corrupt police system or a corrupt judicial system. There are many good citizens who have information about such operations but because of the generally corrupt mindset of Kenyans, we just let it be. As all these fights are going on, our politics heats up. Those in government continue to try and score a little more while those in the opposition will do anything to discredit them. What is true is that all of them are Kenyans and their mindset is not that different. But we must keep hope alive.
Fr Dominic Wamugunda is dean of students, University of Nairobi.
