A section of Kenyans has petitioned the Senate, calling for immediate action against corruption and bad governance in the country.
The group under the Operation Linda Jamii initiative has filed a petition with the Senate, calling for immediate intervention to address what they describe as “historic and systemic corruption”.
They said corruption has crippled Kenya’s economy, paralysed essential services, and worsened the unemployment crisis affecting millions of young Kenyans.
The group led by Fred Ogolla marched from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices to the Senate on Thursday, where they formally submitted the petition to Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo.
The petitioners gave the Senate 21 days to act on the matter, warning that failure to do so would trigger nationwide protests and a planned occupation of the Senate.
The group deliberately chose to petition the Senate instead of the National Assembly, citing what they described as a lack of trust in the latter.
“We are submitting this petition to the Senate rather than the Parliament of Kenya due to the alleged corruption and state capture that have tainted the latter,” Ogolla said.
The petition emphasises the need for bold and comprehensive legislative reforms to restore governance and accountability, reverse the economic downturn, and rekindle hope among the country’s unemployed youth.
One of the key issues raised in the petition is the high unemployment rate, which the petitioners link directly to the misappropriation of public funds, poor policy decisions, and the collapse of key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and education.
“The country has been subjected to unprecedented levels of corruption since independence,” the petition reads.
“Currently, the economy cannot perform its essential functions—education, healthcare, food security, and infrastructure.”
Citing data from the Central Bank of Kenya and other verified government reports, the petitioners estimate that the country has lost approximately Sh4.913 trillion to corruption under five successive administrations.
The petition also highlights the growing issue of pending bills, which currently stand at Sh665 billion under the current government.
The petitioners argued that these unpaid obligations constitute another form of corruption, as the goods and services were budgeted for but remain unpaid, resulting in stalled projects, job losses, and economic hardship across counties.
“Pending bills are also a form of corruption since the goods and services were already budgeted for,” the petition states.
“This failure to pay suppliers stalls economic activity and deepens hardship in local communities.”
Ogolla and the other petitioners are urging the Senate to urgently consider the petition and enact strong anti-corruption laws, improve transparency, and ensure that public resources serve the interests of all Kenyans rather than a select few.
“Without decisive action, Kenya’s economy will continue to collapse, and millions of young people will remain trapped in unemployment and poverty,” Ogolla warned.
The petition represents a significant move by civil society to hold the government accountable and calls on public institutions to rebuild public trust through integrity and effective service delivery.
