This archive report was first published on 12 October 2019.
The Catholic Church in Kenya has taken a significant step in the fight against corruption by announcing a ban on cash donations from politicians.
According to the bishops, donations will now be accepted through mobile money transfers or cheque payments, a move aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in harambee funds.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption CEO Twalib Mbarak has praised the decision, saying it will help to curb the flow of dirty money into churches.
However, the move has not been without controversy, with some church leaders resisting the decision, citing the difficulty of implementing it.
One way for the churches to delink themselves from tainted money is to wean themselves from dependence on harambees presided over by politicians.
Instead, they can explore other ways to fund their projects, such as seeking donations from businessmen and philanthropists within their congregations.
The Catholic bishops have also proposed opening corruption desks in all Catholic churches in the country to track cases reported by the public.
Follow-up will be key in ensuring that the church's anti-corruption efforts are effective.
“We shall keep a record of any gift to a religious leader exceeding Sh50,000. All gifts should be acknowledged by a letter,” said the bishops.
The church has also promised to open accounts of their projects and any fundraising initiatives for public scrutiny.
It is time for the whole concept of harambees to be revisited, with some politicians viewing them as the main agency of development in the country.
However, this view is misplaced, and harambees have been shown to be ineffective in promoting development.
Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni has authored a Bill that calls for special committees to keep a record of harambee cash that is collected, which will help to check embezzlement of such funds.
Regulation will also help in tracking cases of possible money laundering.
It is wonderful that the Treasury has banned aimless “benchmarking” and sightseeing trips overseas by government honchos, which add zero value to the taxpayer.
