Uhuru's Presidency doing little to tackle corruption
Corruption in Kenya has reached its peak and the leadership need to act pronto. 9 billion NYS Season II has seen atleat 48 people and diretors of several companies arrested. Public Service Principal Secretary Lilian Mbogo appeared before PAC and pointe the rot that is in the Uhuru led Jubilee government. Even as the prosecution continues, questions in the mind of Kenya remain unanswered: how can corruption of such magnititude happen when Kenya has a fully functional financial eco-system? What is the role of Central Bank of Kenya as a regulator of the movement of funds above 1million between accounts? Banking circular number 1 of 2016 signed by Matu Mugo the then Assitant Director-Banking department of CBK and circulated to all banking and micro finance institutions gave stricter guidelines. The circular was an additional guidelines to regulation 31 of Proceed of Crime and Money Laundering Regulation 2013.
CBK is responsible for providing guidelines for prudent financial flow in the country. The regulations required that additioanl information should be sought by financial institutions where customers are handling lrge cash transactions equivalent to or execeeding Usd 10,000 (Kes 1million). These include:
- Why large cash deposit or withdrawal is necessary?
- Why the cash deposit or wthdrawal cannot be made through electronic means?
- Where the mney will be taken right from the bank premise
- What money is going to be used for?
- Who will be the direct and indirect beneficiairies of the money?
- The full identity of the intended beneficiairies of the money.
- The source of the money which is sought to be deposited or withdrawn over the counter.
In one way or the other, one or two requirements above have not been respected by financial institutions and have allowed fradulent companies trade in tax payer's money. NYS Season I's main culprits were acquinted and the then CS-Devolution cleared and ran successfully for Gubernatiorial position. Large sums of money, according to the main protaginist Ms Josephine Kabura were carried from banking halls and packed in sacks.
Kenya has now been known as the most corrupt country in the world - a money-laundeing haven. Government officials top the list of the thieves of public funds. The legal and justice framework is weak to successfully prosecute the culprits. Government agencies tasked to handle, investigate and prosecute corrupt related cases are weakened by political patronage. In sum, there is no pragmatic political will to fight corruption. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy have issued stern warnings for the last 6 years of their governance. However, none of the culprits has been prosecuted and jailed. Infact, corridors of corruption directly point to the two leaders: protectors of the corruption henchmen and women. Thye have done little to lead the war against corruption!
Even as Government remain mutely complacent on tackling runaway corruption, Kenya's debt scales at 4.6 trillion. On average, every Kenyan owes approximately Kes 100,000 - thanks to the treasury's appetite for foreign borrowing!
But closely linked to why most of the corrupt cases do not see the light of day is tribalism. Current CS for Health Sicily Kariuki took over from Anne Waiguru. The spate of the 10.6 billion NYS scandal happened during her tenure. She now head the Health docket. These two chief protagonist remain in power, protected by the state with the opulence and fiedom. Will the President take a bold step and ask CS Kariuki to step aside? Will EACC, DPP and DCI require Ms Waiguru to be prosecuted? Out of 10 billion stolen, suspects who have been arrained in court are said o have taken Kes 400 million. Kenyans are asking - who else has 9.5billion? Why havent they been arrsted alongside the others?
In sum, the recent arrests are an orchestra of musical chairs. Reason why i advocate for tougher laws. Chapter Six of the constituion on Integrity need to be strengthened in addition to Economic Crimes and Anti-Money Laundering Act. I support any bill that will require execution though firing squad of anyone who is found to be corrupt. or more nicely is to throw the corrupt individual to a den fll of hyenas.