This archive report was first published on 11 July 2019.
Published on July 11, 2019, corruption levels in Kenya have become so bad that many people are willing to try anything to deal with the crisis.
Former National Authority for the Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (Nacada) board chairman John Mututho recently suggested that hiring deaf graduates in procurement departments could help tackle corruption, as they are difficult to compromise. However, this idea is misguided, as corruption is not simply a matter of hearing someone offering a bribe or a share in a crooked deal.
Corruption is a structural issue that cannot be solved by hiring certain individuals or implementing superficial measures. In fact, being a procurement officer can be a dangerous job, especially in Kenya, where corruption is rampant.
One of the most lucrative and high-risk jobs in Kenya is that of a procurement officer, particularly in multilateral agencies. A former head of a multilateral agency revealed that they had flown the last Kenyan procurement head and his family out of the country due to safety concerns, and had decided to no longer employ Kenyans in the role.
Across the city, another multilateral agency had seven Kenyans in its procurement department attacked or killed over the same period. These incidents highlight the dangers faced by procurement officers in Kenya and the need for a more comprehensive approach to addressing corruption.
While some may suggest that electing leaders who will push for transparent government and reform the electoral field is the answer to rolling back corruption, this is a simplistic view. Corruption is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach, and it is unlikely that a single solution will be effective.
As the author notes, the forces that will emerge to correct corruption could be populist and authoritarian, and may believe that the only way to deal with the corrupt is to purge them and impose harsh punishments. This is a worrying prospect, and one that highlights the need for a more nuanced and effective approach to addressing corruption.
