This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
Kenya's corruption woes have been a persistent issue, with the country ranking among the most corrupt in the world. The recent dam scandal has only added to the concerns, with many Kenyans questioning the government's commitment to addressing the issue.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's visit to Namibia on August 1, 2019 saw him reiterate his promise to fight corruption, stating, 'If you are corrupt we will fight you. You can be my brother or my sister or my closest political ally but if you are corrupt we will fight you.'
However, many Kenyans remain unconvinced, pointing out that the president has yet to take concrete action against high-profile corrupt individuals, including those close to him. As one Twitter user @wanjikumugane noted, 'You & your handshake partner are among but a few Politicians who were born in wealth so you have no reason to steal coz someone did it for you.'
Others have called for a more comprehensive approach to addressing corruption, including a review of historical wealth acquisition by Kenya's super-rich families. As @BeingCharlie tweeted, 'Good Morning Mr President, Historical data on wealth acquisition by THE SUPER RICH FAMILIES would be a good starting point. Sincerely, Taxpayer.'
The issue of corruption has been a major challenge for the Kenyan government, with many citizens suffering the consequences of corruption, including the recent hunger-related deaths in Turkana and Baringo counties.
