Politicians are the leaders of our society and politics is a factor in every sphere of the human life.
Politics is at play in government appointments of judges, police and military bosses. Mwananchi looks up to that most famous politician with great admiration.
Politicians are the face of leadership and by and large, drivers of the way of life of the citizens. Suffice to say, politicians are the biggest players and also the biggest inspiration for corruption.
With corrupt figures being the face of leadership, then graft will run free and easy. What a country needs is leadership that will crush corruption for development to be achievable.
Kenya has been plagued by corruption since the early days. Corruption has been reported to cost Kenya one third of the annual national budget every year. Kenyans feel they have been fleeced to death and the reactions available show the citizens cannot wait for a chance to get rid of the looting and for all.
On August 9, Kenyans will troop to polling stations to to elect leaders who will steer this great republic for the next five years. That was a clear hint.
Kenyans have a chance to slay the monster that is corruption at the ballot by denying corruption perpetrators and enablers the chance to hold the influential leadership positions. At the very top, we have two main forces contending for the presidency. The Raila-Karua duo and the Ruto-Rigathi pair.
What is the position of the two tickets on matters corruption?
Raila Odinga is not only the father of modern democracy and devolution. He is also the biggest threat to corruption. Through word and deed, Raila has fought against corruption.
As an opposition figure, Raila has exposed several mega scandals, effectively saving billions of taxpayers money, or creating an opportunity for recovery of what has already been lost.
He, for instance, exposed the maize and fertilizer scandals, the infamous NYS I and NYS II scandals that cost Kenyans billions meant to empower the youth of our nation. Who can forget the multi-billion Arror and Kimwarer scandal?
As the Prime Minister, Raila suspended members of the Cabinet implicated in graft to pave way for probe and prosecution. One of them was William Ruto, who at the time was the Minister for Agriculture, a position he was [recommended for] appointment by Raila himself, both being on the ODM political camp.
That shows Raila will not spare even those deemed to be closest to him, should they get involved in corrupt dealings. In addition to his exhibited intolerance for graft, Raila does not have a corruption scandal attached to his name.
Martha Karua has been rightfully described as the perfect image of integrity, sober governance and leadership and non-compromise on matters integrity.
Karua has boldly called out corruption and even propagandists will have a rough time trying to create fake links between herself and corruption. She is a clean pair of hands who is right to expect that anyone serving in a government she leads to follow the example she leads by.
Ruto, on the other hand, has been implicated in several graft scandals. He was implicated in the maize scandal, the illegal acquisition of the land on which the Weston Hotel stands and the parcel belonging to Adrian Muteshi in Uasin Gishu county, for which he was ordered to return to him and pay Sh5 million fine.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and others have also linked Ruto to the loss of billions of shillings in the Arror and Kimwarer dams project.
Rigathi is facing corruption cases in court. These include fraudulent acquisition of public property, conspiracy to commit a crime of corruption, money laundering, conflict of interest and acquisition of proceeds of crime. Notably, Rigathi is charged with the crime of fraudulently acquiring Sh7.4 billion through doing business with government.
For Kenyans who have been baying for the blood of the monster called corruption, the perfect opportunity presents itself through the upcoming elections.
Kenyans have the chance to lock out all corrupt leaders through the ballot and vote in leaders who will defend our economy by crushing graft.
Dear voter, you are armed with a gun, your ID card or your valid passport. You have loaded your gun by registering as a voter. Make sure your gun will not jam on the battlefield by confirming the status of your registration in the voters register.
On Election Day, take your loaded gun and head to the battlefield, your voting station. Cock your gun, and fire!
Will you slay the enemy by voting them out? It’s a free world. You only stand strongly advised. Adios!
Editor's note: President Mwai Kibaki revoked the suspension of Ruto and Education Minister Sam Ongeri to allow investigations into the maize and Free Primary Education scandals, with State House saying, "constitutionally, the two ministers remain in office".
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