Corruption watchdog cleans up image with high profile asset recoveries

Ever since its inception in 2004, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission has borne the tag of a ‘toothless bull-dog’, given to it by anti-graft crusaders.

But this dubious credential seems to be edging towards an end.

With the recent recoveries of stolen public assets and the prosecutions of several high-profile government officials accused of graft, KACC seems to be on mission to spruce up its image.

Corruption is estimated to have cost Kenya’s economy at least Sh200 billion over the past two decades.

Judging by the current national budget estimates, the money lost through scandals is adequate to run the ministries of Education, Medical Services and the National Assembly for a whole year, excluding the hundreds of millions spent on investigations.

Last week, the anti-corruption agency handed the government land worth Sh1.7 billion, which had been grabbed from the Forestry ministry and the Kenya Wildlife Service.

This was part of a larger lot worth Sh6 billion which the State agency has seized in the recent past.

Over the past few months, at least 30 senior government officers have been taken to court over allegations of graft.

One major accusation that has for years been levelled against KACC is that it has only been chasing small offenders instead of corrupt individuals connected to the Kibaki and Moi regimes.

Despite the renewed efforts, the question being asked by analysts, business leaders and Kenyans is this: Is Kenya finally winning the war against graft?

“We have to be very cautious. Yes KACC has taken several senior people to court but historically, how many corruption cases has the Government won against the offenders? Hardly any,” said Patrick Obath, the chairman of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance .

“The number of cases taken to court and the seizures are only an indicator that KACC is beginning to do its job but not necessarily a signal that we are winning ,” Mr Obath added.

The new drive to fight corruption is coming in the wake of new mega scandals in government which have tainted Kenya’s credentials in the international community, leading to the suspension of aid among some donors.

New scandals involving the private sector and government players that threaten to derail Kenya’s fight against graft include the recent purchase of land meant to be used as a cemetery in Athi River at an inflated cost by the City Council of Nairobi — a case that has landed at least 15 officers in Court.

This scandal came hot on the heels of another in the free primary education program where Education ministry officials embezzled millions of shillings given by the British government to fund various school projects.