This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
Published on October 4, 2019, the ferry disaster in Likoni, where a mother and her four-year-old daughter slipped into the sea, highlights the need for accountability in public service.
Kenya Ferry Services' failure to act promptly in the Likoni ferry disaster is a stark reminder of the country's ineptitude in holding public officials accountable for their actions.
There are no consequences for Kenya Ferry Services or the Transport ministry if someone falls overboard from their faulty ferry. Similarly, there are no consequences if the government fails to mount a successful recovery operation or admit its inability to do so.
Recently, the government's handling of the proposed merger between Telkom Kenya and Airtel has raised concerns about the lack of accountability in public service. MPs called in the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the deal, citing a dilution of government shareholding in Telkom from 49 per cent to 30 per cent in 2012.
However, the investigation has stalled the deal, and Telkom may suffer losses or even collapse as a result. The question is: who takes responsibility for this loss?
Can the transaction that took place seven years ago be reversed? Should taxpayers' money be used to buy a loss-making mobile phone company? The public interest is in protecting the public shareholding in Telkom, not in blocking a merger that increases and secures the value of the public stake.
Public officials should not have the discretion to interfere in commerce in ways that lead to losses to the public and to investors. They must have a strong incentive to ensure positive outcomes in their areas of jurisdiction and be punished for failure.
