According to the 2023 National Ethics and Corruption survey, the average bribe paid nearly doubled to Ksh. 11,625 from Ksh. 6,865 in the previous year. The survey shows that most of the Kenyans paid bribes because it was the only way they would access the required services. We have normalized the abnormal to an extent that it is becoming a tradition and normal. This undermines the ideals and aspirations of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), Kenya Vision 2030, East African Vision 2050 and African Union Agenda 2063. When the few corrupt have their way, the state and other actors have little capacity to alleviate poverty and inaccessibility of goods and services hence curtailing the achievement of these national and international goals. The African Union estimates that 25 percent of the African Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is lost through corruption! Secondly, corruption brings economic loss and inefficiency as exemplified by the 2016 report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that showed that between $1.5 to 2 trillion per year globally is lost to corruption, hence a loss of about 2 percent of the global GDP, and much more loss if all aspects of corruption are factored in. Thirdly, corruption increases poverty and inequality, because it has negative effects on both inequality and provision of basic goods and services. It has much more affects and impacts on the poor and low-income households compared to other segments of the society.
Thirdly, corruption leads to personal loss, inconvenience and intimidation as one has to pay to get services that they are entitled as citizens without much ado, while to the perpetrators, corruption gives them the feeling of personal gain, sense of superiority and greater convenience. Fourthly, corruptions lead to public and private sector dysfunctionality, failure of infrastructure through decreased quality of public goods and services, expensive process of accessing such services due to increased cost, time and unfairness. It leads to relegation of innovations, efficiencies, merit, good performance and honesty in service delivery to mediocrity and loss of motivations to deliver. Fifth, corruption leads to impunity and perpetuation of injustices where those with resources escape justice, the less powerful are accused of the wrong crimes, deprived of due process of the law, wrongfully imprisoned. Sixth, corruption leads to organized crime, conflicts and terrorism because the associated activities are tolerated under a corrupt system. Let us all fight corruption and build our nation to greater prosperity as envisioned in Kenya Vison 2030. Dr Giti is an urban management, public – private partnerships (PPP) and environment specialist. mutegigiti@gmail.com , @danielgiti
Dr. Daniel Mutegi Giti 