Editorials

EDITORIAL: MPs should get to the bottom of NYS scandal

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Parliament buildings. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Reports that MPs have threatened not to approve any budgetary allocations to the National Youth Service (NYS) programmes until action is taken against those behind the Sh10 billion scandal are welcome.

It is our view that the legislators should go a step farther and make good their threat. We hope that they are not playing politics by issuing lame threats.

The MPs should stop the NYS budget, except for crucial recurrent votes, until the lost funds are accounted for and those responsible penalised.

It is prudent that the National Assembly gets to the bottom of this latest scandal and cracks the whip.

To say that Kenyans are getting tired of these financial scandals at public agencies would be an understatement.

Time and again they have been promised that the corruption monster will be slayed only for the same to rear its head again with great abandon.

It has become apparent that those engaging in corruption and theft of public funds have been operating as if it is business as usual since many similar cases have gone unpunished over the years.

The only way the battle to be won is by hitting them where it hurts most. 

Custodial sentences must be handed out to those found culpable and the stolen money or assets bought with it should be seized.

Handing out lenient sentences and allowing the corrupt to continue enjoying their ill-gotten wealth has made corruption a worthwhile enterprise for the thieves.

State agencies tasked with fighting fraud should get down to business and clean up the rot in our system.

Kenyans want to see action taken against those behind the financial scandals. No one should be spared.

That is the least we owe to current and future generations in the battle against theft of taxpayers’ funds.