Common Corruption

Now if you are like me you are unable to keep tabs with all the corruption cases in Kenya today. The amounts are mind boggling. If you are in the middle class you feel overwhelmed and possibly helpless but you possibly are determined not be part of it.

In the last few weeks I have encountered what I call common corruption. In one incident I was purchasing a farm implement from a Muhindi (Asian) shop in Industrial area. There was an African sales guy who explained the benefits of the various models available and their prices. I settled for the cheapest which he promised me a discount. Alas! at the point of making payment the guy offered yet another discount but this time round it was to be hidden from the Muhindi and we could split it between he and I. What would you have done?

In another similar case while buying something totally different a young man who is a sales agent for a Chinese establishment told me I could pay cheaper if I agreed to use a special account hidden from management. It would be between me and him!

Well in both cases I declined saying that I don't do that . Common corruption.

In all cases of corruption I would argue it is people trying to get ahead of the pack in their area. Those stealing billions is to get to Runda and other high end estates quickly only to be caught up in the traffic jams that afflict all of us or to have a relative die in a public hospital for lack of medicines or doctors because there are no public funds to pay for them.

Do you think corruption leads to growth of an economy or stagnation or lopsided development?