Kenya's poverty rate is a stark reminder of the country's failure to address corruption and mismanagement of public resources. The 2020 Comprehensive Poverty Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics paints a grim picture, with 15.9 million citizens living below the poverty line.
Martha Karua, leader of the Narc Kenya party, has called for full disclosure and accountability regarding Covid-19 funds sourced from companies and private individuals. The allegations of misappropriation or theft of these funds come amidst a backdrop of widespread corruption and theft of public resources.
Stealing from the public by government officials in cahoots with underworld cartels has created one of the most unequal societies in the world. The Kenyan rich, mostly politicians, lead fabled lifestyles with investments abroad, while the majority of the people lead a hand-to-mouth existence.
The KNBS report highlights the areas in which the country needs to invest to reduce poverty, including health, education, nutrition, housing, and water. However, the government agencies responsible for these areas are some of the most corrupt and inefficiently run.
As MP John Waluke was sentenced to a lengthy jail term or a hefty fine for theft of close to Sh300 million ($3 million) from the National Cereals and Produce Board, the poverty-stricken residents of his constituency protested the sentence. This highlights the causal relationship between theft and poverty.
