Let’s embrace fighting corruption in East Africa

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga have lately been given a standing ovation for their commitment in the fight against corruption in Kenya. Whereas it is an essential move in Kenya, the problem of corruption is widespread across East Africa and manifest in many faces such as stealing public funds, dubious contract award, importation of foods deemed unfit for human consumption such as the recent sugar saga in Kenya, denial of justice, and ethnic favouritism, among others.

According to Gyimah-Brempong (2002), corruption has a significant effect on economic growth and income inequality. It decreases economic growth directly and indirectly through decreased investment in physical capital. Increased growth and increased income inequality caused by corruption hurt the poor more than the rich in Africa.
So the crusade against corruption should be embraced by all the East African leaders if they have good will and if they want the region to develop with no member state left behind.

Why is corruption in Africa unique? Whereas in first world countries, corrupt public officers fear to identify with people and are also isolated and some of them resign from office, the corrupt in East Africa are proud, walk with their head high and it takes a struggle for them to resign from their offices. Some assume their positions of power with their godfathers around them, which is a ticket to steal from the nation. Michela Wrong’s (2010) book titled It’s Our Turn to Eat displays the temerity of the corrupt people in our countries.

To clear minded Kenyans and other East Africans, this is a patriotic and revolutionary move for the pride of Kenya and the providence of democracy. It is a gesture to shape a turning point in our unrelenting search for a corrupt-free society. Indeed, there is cause for hope and faith in the handshake between president Kenyatta and Mr Odinga, which is now dealing with grave national issue. Kenyans of all walks of life appreciate this because they believe that if corruption is not dealt with now, the nation will be wretched. They also believe that the responsibility of saving a country from the scourge of corruption lies on the very shoulders of their leaders and collectively with citizens themselves.

For our society to flourish, we must boldly confront all forms of graft. This can be realised when we are deeply rooted in national unity with every one of our leaders as well as citizens acting in obedience to the rule of law. Unity of purpose is one of the most accurate pathways to deal with corruption. It is also one of the tools at our disposal to heal the wounds created by corruption and move on as one people with one purpose.

With that, these tremendous and affluent East African nations can offer equal opportunity and hope to all. With a committed and honest fight against corruption, we shall then be able to make our road to national prosperity safe for us all. The unity among our leaders is a gesture that corruption is neither an ethnic problem nor a political party problem, but a national problem and they have all come together as fellow citizens to deal with the issue.

I have no iota of doubt that all patriotic men and women from everywhere in this region will come together for this cause to salvage their country. Let us awaken the conscience of East Africa and provoke reforms. To our treasured leaders on the frontline, thanks for your determined bravery.

It is clear that your actions are designed to call attention to evil and to cause change, and it is the hope of many that you will do it with love and honesty so that those who stole, will repent and steal no more, and those who were about to steal will withdraw. You should guard against double standards and instead make good the promise of the nation so that our children may have unflinching faith in your leadership.
Let us try to protect our image as a region, heal the wounds and build a new community of an East Africa we all believe in.

Mr Okello is a graduate student at University College London, UK.
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