Make corruption expensive

Nation Media Group

A court last week fined a Nairobi businessman Sh720 million or serve 21 years behind bars for looting Sh180 million from the Youth Fund.

At Sh720 million, Mukuria Ngamau, the director of Quorandum Ltd, will be paying four times the loot, perhaps taking into account how long he stayed with the public money or the dividends it would generate were it put to good use.

The accused conspired to commit an economic crime, unlawful acquisition of public property, and making false documents, the court ruled.

For years, people, irrespective of class in society, have said that corruption was thriving in Kenya because convictions were fewer than expected.

We urge the web of government agencies tasked with arresting people and investigations to present water-tight cases backed with evidence so that justice is served without delay.

Convictions would definitely warn anyone preparing to misbehave that the conduct would be expensive.

The recent high-level convictions, including the sentencing of a former minister, should embolden institutions whose work it is to nail the wrongdoers to do a thorough work that will see justice served without delay.

Kenyans would want to see their tormentors sent to jail, fined and their loot returned to the rightful owner to, among other things, deter more looters and to push people to work for fair wages.