In bitter memory

In the short space of eight months, President Kenyatta has made two florid declarations decrying runaway corruption. The first had scant results. The second was made yesterday.

One of the oddities contrasting former president Kibaki with Mr. Kenyatta is a flair for the dramatic. While Mr. Kibaki preferred a reticent, sometimes seen as apathetic, style of leadership, the current president is adept at making statements.

Since before taking office, he has relied more than a little on sensationalism to endear himself to the people and mitigate rising angst.

On 27th March this year, in a special joint sitting for the Senate and National Assembly, he handed over to the house an EACC report with names of suspected corrupt Government officials.

In his speech, he remarked;

“The time has come to send a strong signal to the country that my administration will accept nothing less than the highest standard of integrity from those that hold high office.”

Looking at the events that led to the second theatrical, it is apparent that some in the government took this statement as an endorsement of their plundering ways. Corruption has continued unabated to starve the country.

This is despite the 352 individuals arraigned in court over corruption allegations.

The second declaration, given after a period of seeming indifference from the President, was more aggressive.

The President declared corruption to be a National Security threat and unveiled a raft of new measures to curb the problem. He also nominated new members, including a chairperson, to the Anti-corruption Commission.

“We will win this fight. Not least because Kenyans for the first time in decades have strong tools to demand accountability. The Constitution we passed has provided for ample provisions which when implemented, not only in letter but in spirit, hold public officials, and indeed all Kenyans, to account.”

Whether this is another effete attempt by the president to avert growing public odium toward his government or a genuine first attempt to tackle corruption, the truth is that it is not much different in words from earlier in the year. Let us hope a contrast emerges in the results.