From: odhiambo okecth

The appointment of a new team led by Prof PLO Lumumba to head the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission has given the fight against corruption a new short in the arm in Kenya. This is being well complemented by the robust Legislature, the people of Kenya and the new found Independence at the Judiciary.

This is the way it ought to be.

The fight against corruption can never be won when the corrupt can afford to hire the Judiciary, because the rule of law must be anchored on fidelity to the same law by members of the Judiciary. We must hence have a robust Judiciary that enjoins in the fight. In the same vein, the Commissioner of Police must be very clear about his mandate. The Police must rise to the occasion and make the country proud.

When the people join in the fight against corruption, one thing is clear; the corrupt will have nowhere to hide. We have seen convoluted cases where the corrupt in our midst turn to tribe at their time of tribulations. They start the worn out cry that ‘our tribe has been targeted’. Indeed, PLO has turned the heat on this 43rd Tribe of Kenya.

This tribe is very dangerous. They suck our blood and when we catch up with them, they run to us for defense. We must unite and crush them from our midst. They are of the vampire types that will eat us. They have no blood in their systems and they have no feelings.

The resolve is becoming clear and we are pleased with the support HE the President and the Rt Hon Prime Minister have given so far. They have made it clear that corruption will no longer be a way of life in Kenya like some leaders would want it to be. They have given the Director of KACC a free reign and it is now upon us to give the team at KACC all our support.

Having successfully voted YES in the last referendum to give unto ourselves a new constitution, we the people of Kenya must remain in the drivers seat. WE must stay with the issues, monitor the implementation process and observe utmost fidelity to the rule of law. This will call for sacrifices. We must be prepared to up the heat on all those amongst us who still believe that everything goes.

As Kenyans, we must demand for service delivery. We must put to task all Government officers who are unable to deliver and demand that they step aside. It is time we asked what Independence gave unto us the people of Kenya. For 47 years, we have been struggling with very basic things and time has come for us to ask; what went wrong? We set at Independence to fight against Illiteracy, poverty, disease, and we wanted water and light for all by certain times.

This is where KACC will join in and be of help to Kenya. With the renewed war on graft, we the people of Kenya must also now interrogate our leaders. Every 5 years we are called upon to elect a new team, what values do we look for in leadership? We need to also have some minimum qualifications to match leadership positions for our civic, County, Parliamentary, Senate and Presidential candidates.

Secondly, we must all help PLO in demanding accountability of our leadership. They need to account for their time in office. We need to look at their service delivery records. Are they with us or are they with the 43rd Tribe? We must demand accountability with Decentralized Funds such as CDF, LATF, Bursaries, Aids, Women Funds, Youth Funds, Roads Funds and all those funds under the control of our politicians. Are the funds serving the intended interests and groups? If it is Bursary, is it being given to deserving pupils?

Thirdly, we must encourage our brothers and sisters in the Police Force to rise to the occasion. This is as much their country as it is ours and given that they have the constitutional mandate to enforce law and order, we must give them our undivided support. This will call for a few measures; they must be given adequate shelter, protection and support. They must be given a good pay and we must support them in the course of their duties. They must be well equipped for the job.

In return, the police must remain loyal to the rule of law. They must enforce law and order without fear or favour. They must arrest all those who break the law and take them to court. They must enforce traffic rules and bring sanity back to our roads.

Lastly, we must all focus on our Local Authorities and the envisaged County Governments. These are going to be the next bastion of progress for Kenya and it must be our responsibility to remain focused when it comes to electing leaders to these offices. They must be men and women who will help spur national development, not personal development.

The bottom line, we must make it our responsibility to elect competent people to positions of leadership. In the same vein, our political leaders must appoint people of competence to state offices. It is only through such competent appointments will service delivery become a priority.

We need to play our part to compliment the new found energy at the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission, the Legislature and the Judiciary. We need to shame all the corrupt who run back to us when the heat is on them to go back and face the music alone, just like they were alone when conspiring against Kenya.

We at KCDN will remain in the front line in mobilizing the public for just causes.

Peace and blessings,

Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
PO Box 47890-00100,
Nairobi Kenya.
Tel; 0724 365 557, 0724 365 557
http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com
friendsofkcdn@yahoogroups.com

Odhiambo T Oketch is the current Chairman to the City Council of Nairobi Stakeholders Evaluation Team on Performance Contracting and Rapid Results Management. He was also the Co-Chair and Coordinator of The Great Nairobi Walk against Corruption that was held in Nairobi on the 22nd October 2010.