Kiunjuri should name the people behind maize scam

The mood right now nationally is such that the majority of Kenyans are charged about the possibility of serious action being taken on those who have looted public resources.

These are people who have been entrusted with the responsibility of watching over resources that are meant for the good of all Kenyans. We must, however, accept that a culture has been established over time that has shaped the perception that it does not matter if one takes whatever is available for personal use.

Is it a wonder then that people will fight so hard and even kill other people if such people are preventing them from getting to the eating table?

Some people – including those in the middle of it all – are behaving as if they are hearing these things for the first time, or that it is a big surprise.

The culture of corruption has been with us for a long time and many people who have a lot of “riches” have been propelled to where they are by this culture.

AMASS WEALTH

Indeed there are those who have misused the systems of governance to amass all manner of riches at the expense of the Kenyan economy.

They then go ahead to parade these riches through a very high level of conspicuous consumption which leaves gullible Kenyans thinking that this is the best way to go.

Some work is now being done along these lines and our President – who I am sure means well – has made his stand known on the matter. The jury is, however, still out on whether we shall arrive at a point where Kenyans can have faith that they are truly protected against those who steal national resources.

The maize issue, in which farmers say they produced grain which the government run establishment could not buy, is a little curious. Some time in the past we have had issues with maize, the biggest being during the coalition government when Hon Raila Odinga was Prime Minister and our current Deputy President was Minister for Agriculture.

FIGHT CORRUPTION

Where I come from, it is believed that “you must not break the arm of a farmer”. It is the farmer who produces what society depends on to survive. If, in fact, the executive and judicial arms of our government – I shall not talk about the legislature – are truly sincere about the fight against this cancer, as they seem to say they are, then the current Minister for Agriculture must tell Kenyans who those powerful people behind the maize scandal he mentioned before Parliament are.        

 The writer is Dean of Students at the University of Nairobi. [email protected]