This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
On November 27, 2019, President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga unveiled the Building Bridges Initiative report, which proposed a lucrative 'job' for Kenyans – 'professional' whistleblowers.
According to the report, anyone who reports a corrupt person would get 5% of the total recovered loot. This has sparked excitement among local unemployed youths, who see it as a full-time job given the current unemployment rates in the country.
Benard Chege, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics graduate, is optimistic about the new job opportunity. 'I think I just got myself some hustle, if I report someone for stealing Sh1 million from public coffers then I would get Sh50,000 in return,' he says.
However, this 'job' comes with risks, including security and the cost of spy equipment. Corrupt individuals may protect themselves at all costs from being exposed, posing a risk to the whistleblower. But Chege remains confident, citing the report's recommendation to strengthen the Witness Protection Agency to protect whistleblowers.
With the state previously proposing that citizens be paid 10% of the amount recovered from corruption, Chege hopes that the BBI report will be passed, allowing him to be 'employed' as a whistleblower.
