E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Agree With Clay Or Not But Doesn't He Have A Point?

Whether you agree with him or not, whether you are in Government or not and whether you are plainspoken or cagey, you cannot possibly ignore Sir Edward Clay, the British High Commissioner.

The reason one cannot ignore Clay is that since last year, the High Commissioner has emerged as the most vocal critic of the Narc administration, especially with regard to its professed war against corruption.

Not only has Clay made it his mission to expose graft in government, but he has also chosen very tough and rough language to put across his points of view, which rankles with many in the Government.Of course there were many Kenyans who were not amused on Wednesday night when Clay repeatedly tore into the Government as he pointed out several cases of graft which need to be investigated.

Their ire was aroused by what they considered to be the High Commissioner’s hectoring and condescending tone and the high moral ground he assumes as he talks at his hosts who he condemns wholesale.

While we respect the views of those who take umbrage in Clay’s language and tenor and while we appreciate the High Commissioner rubs up many the wrong way, we wish to focus attention on corruption.

Firstly, it is the Government itself which declared it would have a zero tolerance approach towards fighting corruption and that there would be no sacred cows in this war, but is that the case two years later?

Secondly, while there are a multiplicity of agencies all allegedly fighting corruption, there is nothing to show for their work, investigations do not seem to go anywhere and there are no prosecutions.

Thirdly, as Clay said he has uncovered 20 new cases of corruption involving procurement and sourcing of materials and services for the security agencies, which suggests new corruption has set in with a vengeance.

Fourthly, there is a worrying trend where it appears that when corruption is exposed, Government moves to assert that the monies that would have been lost have been recovered and all is therefore well.But as in the case of Anglo Leasing no names are mentioned; there is conflicting information about the sums involved and then small fish are interdicted, but there are no prosecutions despite investigations.

Clay, and indeed, all Kenyans would not raise the cudgels against the Government if there was evidence it has moved from promising to act on corruption to taking action against corruption in high places.