There’s a clip circulating with Dr David Oginde, the current Chairperson of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), decrying the role of professionals in facilitating corruption scandals.
In the clip, he is quoted observing that the commission has noted that most of the major corruption scandals in Kenya are facilitated and executed by professionals.
He then goes on to mention architects, engineers and lawyers as some of those involved. He adds doctors, procurement and human resource managers, but points out that the list is not exhaustive.
Dr Oginde notes that these highly regarded professions that young learners aspire to join have become tainted by people who engage in corruption.
He advises that if professionals were to take a stand not to engage in corrupt deals, mega corruption would suddenly stop, since its purveyors have neither the brains nor the capacity to design and pull off some of the complex corruption scandals that Kenya has experienced.
These have been facilitated by intelligent professionals. Heavy and prophetic observations, particularly coming from Dr Oginde, who enjoys an apex view on the matter given his privileged office of chairperson of the EACC, previous experience as a presiding Bishop of CITAM, and his basic training as an architect.
Dr Oginde’s message is a terrible indictment of local professionals, and should prick individual conscience. It should prick the conscience of trainers, leaders of professional associations and regulatory boards. Having provided professional leadership at different levels, I know how subtle this matter is.
Maintaining fidelity to professionalism and its core values in today’s world requires intentional conviction. While our professional skills must be used to fend for ourselves and our families, one must beware the wider purpose and calling of progressing and sustaining humankind. We owe this to our country and the global community.
Professional skills must not be employed to undermine and retrogress institutions and states. Luckily, there are many professionals who live these virtues daily. These are the heroes and heroines we must continue to encourage, acclaim and reward whenever there is opportunity.
However, as echoed by Dr Oginde, we do have villains who, driven by greed, tempting rewards or subtle political pressure, drift and provide professional services against public interest and posterity. Such temptation and pressure takes courage to navigate.
However, compromising in such circumstances could cost dearly. In the fullness of time, fate catches up, destroying reputations and careers. Peer discussions, court and newspaper reports bear this witness.
A simple mental tour reveals that most public and private institutions are driven by fairly well-schooled professionals. They have a choice to self-regulate, provide sound professional services within their spaces and projects, and then move on with pride and honour.
However, professional associations and regulatory boards can play a fundamental role too. Not only can they recognise and reward those that serve with exemplary commitment to professionalism, but may also censure, punish or expel from their ranks those proven to revel in professional misconduct and corruption.
The writer is a consultant on land governance. Email: [email protected]
