Charity workers have appealed to the government to fight corruption so Kenyans can benefit from public funds.
Members of the Can Do Kids organisation, based in Illinois, said they are concerned that public funds continue to be plundered while NGOs strive to raise funds to improve the lives of Kenyans.
NGO's director Mark Carbin said members make individual contributions to instal water tanks in schools and help the disadvantaged.
The group has installed 20 (300,000-litre tanks) in primary schools in Kiharu constituency.
Carbin spoke during the commissioning of a tank at Marewa Primary School.
“Most public learning institutions are in a poor state, but funds meant to maintain them are embezzled,” he said.
Carbin said corruption is the root cause of most problems facing the country and must be dealt with firmly.
Government officials, he said, are not complementing NGO efforts to improve the lives of Kenyans.
Can Do Kids is a Christian-based organisation that was originally started to teach children the Bible in the US. It has been funding community projects, including equipping of polytechnics and supporting children's homes.
Karanja Wamatangi, the organisation’s coordinator in the country, urged the government to ensure stolen funds are returned to public coffers.
“I'm asking the government to freeze culprits’ accounts and take back stolen money so it can go towards bettering Kenyans’ lives,” he said.
Money put in offshore accounts should also be repatriated, Wamatangi said.
He asked persons in charge of public resources to ensure they are used for the benefit of Kenyans.
“It is challenging that charity workers are using their money to help people while government officials are plundering public resources,” Wamatangi said.
The organisation conducted renovations at Marewa Primary School and installed a tank for Sh3.2 million.
The class roofing that was caving in was replaced, walls plastered and the dilapidated floors cemented, giving the school a bright new look.
Wamatangi said his organisation has Vision 2020 to ensure it instals 200 water tanks in primary schools.
The initiative is aimed at boosting hygiene in schools to help improve education standards. Many primary schools pupils are forced to fetch water from rivers for cleaning, which makes it hard to maintain hygiene.
