Why corruption is bad for your health
What you need to know:
Rogue importers were printing new bags that were transported to the high seas and used to repackage the contaminated rice.
The cartel, working with customs officials, facilitated entry of the contraband rice.
This means that there are civil servants who were paid to overlook the fact that food completely unfit for human consumption.
Over the last few months of the war on corruption, some startling facts have become clear to all.
Firstly, and most importantly, corruption is bad for the Kenyan economy. This means it stifles economic growth. It retards progress and impedes development.
It can stop you from receiving the right education, prevent you from the correct medical treatment and ensure that you do not get access to the deserved resources.
It has such an overpowering effect on our personal lives, our communities and our nation.
CONSUMPTION
However, now it appears that corruption can also be extremely bad for our health.
Just recently, it emerged that detectives have impounded a staggering one million bags of toxic rice in Mombasa County. Furthermore, the team of investigators have also confiscated more than 400 containers of cooking oil which, they say, do not meet required standards.
A team of detectives working on a report compiled by Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and government agencies, including National Intelligence Service (NIS), seized the goods last month. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the rice, originally from Pakistan, had been condemned as unfit for human consumption but somehow found its way into Kenya. The consignment was past the expiry date by three years.
CONTRABAND
Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said rogue importers were printing new bags that were transported to the high seas and used to repackage the contaminated rice. Mr Kinoti said the cartel, working with customs officials, facilitated entry of the contraband rice.
This means that there are civil servants who were paid to overlook the fact that food completely unfit for human consumption that would have made us very ill would have made its way onto our plates.
This is very serious indeed.
It is clear that under previous administrations this might have gone unnoticed or not dealt with the gravity it requires. However, it is clear with President Kenyatta and DPP Noordin Haji this crime will not be left unanswered.
MALICIOUS
The two have already shown that across the civil service, at every level of government and business, those who try to defraud the nation and steal from its people will pay the penalty.
Those who have been involved in corruption will face justice.
It is vital that the knowledge of this new era of anti-corruption activities and efforts seep into every corner of our nation, especially at the ports of entry. Our entry points should be on the front lines of the battle against corruption, they should not be joined in these malicious, evil and illegal practices.
Those manning our entry points should be safeguarding the country from harm. Perhaps the next time a shipment of spoiled food will attempt to enter Kenya, the customs officials will ensure it, and those behind it, are immediately turned over to the police. Someone’s life could depend on it.
David Machio, International Business Administration-IBA (USIU) and Holder of MBA in Human Resource Management (USIU)
Editors note:An earlier version of this article included the incorrect spelling of David Machio’s name. It has been updated with the correct spelling.
