The corruption mindset in Kenya is sickening, discouraging and horrendous to say the least.
This is the situation many Kenyans are in currently as they think of the many scandals witnessed including Kemsa, NYS and the NCPB multibillion scandals among others.
The concerns by many Kenyans are genuine while those by others are crocodile tears filled with wishes of how great it would be if it were them who had the opportunity to loot. The pain in most of them is about why they never got the chance to loot.
That mindset must be killed because most people think they can only become rich fast without working hard.
This benighted kind of thinking has made several Kenyans desire to get government jobs and contracts not to serve the citizenry but to illegally and greedily enrich themselves.
We are living in a tricky society where some people, especially government employees, are rich because they stole.
Parents are not able to hide their loot from their children.
The young ones are growing with the knowledge of how one should steal and accept kickbacks for them to make it in life.
This mentality is a form of indirect witchcraft where the real witch is not willingly bewitching you but you are getting bewitched anyway.
Kenya has several laws that can be used to kill the corrupt mentality of many of its citizens.
They are Chapter 6 of our constitution, The EACC Act (2011), The Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act (2003) Public Officers Ethics Act (2003), Leadership and Integrity Act (2012) among others as read with the various sections of the Penal Code to effect awareness and hefty punishments where necessary.
However, little has been achieved by way of the application of these laws because of corruption.
Most Kenyans have lost hope in the fight against corruption but the battle is not lost.
It will be negligence of the highest calibre to give up at this break it or make it a point of the battle.
Little actions like talking to the youth about a perception change will help us kill this cast of mind where our people think looting is the only way to a rich lifestyle.
Those almost giving up are the sober and the honest in society.
We should not give up because the corrupt minded are putting extra effort to see the next opportunity.
Let’s create awareness for people to work hard, practice integrity and honesty as the strategies to enjoyable riches.
Let us kill the corrupt mindset among our neighbors, friends and relatives by leading by example.
Eventually, when our people look for opportunities with the mindset of public service, patriotism and transforming lives, we shall have a country and a society worth identifying with.
Research analyst and integrity crusader
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
