Corruption and impunity were central to the Gen Z frustrations that boiled over into the massive anger and demonstrations that paralysed the entire country starting mid-June.
Government officials risk provoking another round of angry protests should they not act on the demand for an end to corruption and mismanagement of public affairs.
It was not lost on those who followed the recent vetting of Cabinet Secretary nominees that the eight reappointed nominees declared 15-80 per cent increases in their net worth while governing ministries whose budgets shrunk by 40-60 per cent since they were first appointed in October 2022.
If Tim Waltz, the running mate of Kamala Harris, the Democrat presidential candidate in the United States, does not own any stocks, bonds or real estate, why should Cabinet Secretaries governing countries with 39 per cent of its population living below the poverty line be allowed to grow their personal wealth?
To avoid a repeat of the crisis that almost engulfed Kenya last month, the Kenya Kwanza government must protect the Conflict of Interest Bill presently before Parliament from mutilation, accelerate open contracting, e-procurement, and procurement digitisation, and find ways of ensuring that state officers do not benefit from insider trading and conflict of interest.
Failure to make corruption history will keep Kenya firmly grey-listed by the Global Financial Action Task Force.
Should this happen, we can expect the civic muscles that flexed themselves so powerfully recently to impose the vision and discipline of the constitution on those that occupy the state.
Amnesty International Kenya executive director spoke to Star