Kenya can make positive strides in the fight against corruption by rewarding crusaders and those who come up with unique ways to curb the vice.
Anti-corruption crusader Joseph Okhako, the author of the newly launched book, Ethics of Life, said motivating campaigners will motivate them to expose the vice that has held the country hostage.
Okhako, also the founding Executive Director of Ethics Institute of East Africa said corruption in the country is so deeply rooted that even those who try to fight it end up giving up.
He added that Kenyan society seems to celebrate those who perpetuate the vice.
“Let us reward those who come up in unique ways to stop corruption either by unmasking police officers taking bribes, medical officers demanding bribes and just everyone else involved,” he said during a radio interview.
Okhako has several decades of work experience as an Ethics Practitioner and Anti-corruption Champion in Kenya and across the East Africa region.
He further argued that agencies put in place to fight corruption such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) cannot effectively stop the vice unless Kenyans themselves undergo and adopt a serious culture change.
“We have embedded this culture of “toa kitu kidogo na tunaabudu wale watu wafisadi,’’ which loosely translates to “give me something small and we worship the corrupt,” he said.
He also advised that the judiciary can play a major role if systems are put in place to protect and celebrate judges who stand firm and do the right thing when handling corruption cases.
“Let us also celebrate these judges because our judiciary is very important in this fight,” he said.
Okhako’s Ethics of Life book was launched last Friday in a colourful event held in Nairobi.
The book highlights the Principles and Practices that define the Ethical Path of citizens.
Former EACC boss Patrick Lumumba who graced the event noted that corruption in Africa has become a governance norm that will take long to kill.
“All you see in Africa is theft on an industrial scale and I agree," Lumumba stated.
Lumumba said that Kenya is facing a huge crisis because of unethical leadership.
Kenyan youths have consequently been challenged to rise up and be at the forefront in the fight against graft.
