E-Clips:- Business Pictorial - Stain Of Corruption In Narc Govt Becoming More Noticeable

IN the past week, the Narc government has been on the spotlight over corruption allegations.

The charges, made by both Opposition and Narc members of parliament look set to be the latest in a litany of drawbacks to hit the Kibaki administration, one and a half years after assuming power.

Ironically, part of the reason why President Kibaki whitewashed the hitherto unconquerable KANU machine in 2002 was based on his public service track record spanning over 40 years which was perceived as unimpeachable. Of course there were other attributes which had to do with his grounding as a brilliant economist.

Few doubt President Kibakis sincerity in fighting graft and fewer still will fault the President in his efforts to improve the image of Kenya.

Sadly for him, however, there appears to be a cartel of both top civil servants and ministers who are hell bent on derailing the President. That high level corruption is steadily taking root in the rank and file of NARC administration is no longer in doubt. No less an authority than the Permanent Secretary in charge of Ethics and Governance and the governments anti-graft czar Mr John Githongo has admitted to the existence of the vice.

The multi billion passport deal, the cranes tender, the procurement of handcuffs and the ongoing computerization of government departments are heart -wrenching and mind boggling examples of the re-emergence — with fury of corruption.

It is beginning to look like the NARC administration was only too willing to fight corruption in as far as the former regime is concerned, but is having to look the other way when some of their own fleece public funds.

To make matters worse, somebody has made it difficult for the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACA) to operate by engaging the staff in a war of attrition whose purpose only the government knows.

It was clear from day one that the government wanted the Commission to be controlled by people it could do business with. It is a badly kept secret that the post of the Director was earmarked for certain individual while that of Deputy Director in charge of investigation and recovery was reserved for an officer with close ties to top government operatives.

Two Permanent Secretaries have been mentioned adversely over corruption. Finance PS Joseph Magari, arguably one of the most powerful and influential public servant has had his public standing stained by the controversial Shs 2.7 billion passport deal. It is understood that he has recorded a statement over the issue with the police. However, the general public expects that the PS to come clean over this massive blot in the Kibaki presidency.

It will be recalled that former Central Bank of Kenya Governor Mr Nahashon Nyaga was forced to resign over allegations that he had abetted the running down of the banking sector. The same method was used to force out former KRA Commissioner General Mr John Munge over allegations that he was a director of Euro Bank.

It is important to note that both Mr Nyagah and Mr Munge had not deposited any money from their organizations in Euro Bank as was then fashionable. They, however, resigned when their names were mentioned to pave way for investigations.

It is difficult to effectively investigate a sitting PS, in view of his powerful position. Which is why the honourable thing would be for Mr Magari to resign from his position until investigations into the grave corruption allegations are fully investigated.

Should he not find it honourable to do so, then the government should send him on leave to pave way for a forensic audit into the activities linked to the passports scam. A letter issued to civil servants about leakages of secret documents to the press by the Head of Public Service Ambassador Francis Muthaura appears like a desperate attempt at damage control and bid to sweep rot under the carpet.

And lest anybody needs reminding and as eight members of parliament from diverse political parties took the government to task over graft, Kenya was over the weekend left out of a grand list approved by the US over its stance in corruption. Surely the selective war on graft will not do.