Kenyans tired of corruption
2005-02-18 10:07
Nairobi - A huge majority of Kenyans want scandal-tainted government officials to be sacked and a large number believe President Mwai Kibaki has lost the war on graft, according to a poll published on Friday.
Eight-five percent of Kenyans said ministers linked to shady deals should be fired while only 13% disagreed and two percent had no opinion on the matter, the poll found.
The survey, commissioned by the Standard newspaper, also found that 69% of the Kenyan public think Kibaki has failed in the war to end corruption despite his vows to eliminate the scourge.
Kibaki's government has been under stinging criticism from the domestic and international community in recent weeks for failing to meet pledges to end corruption in the poverty stricken east African nation.
Many blame Kibaki personally
The poll was conducted by the local affiliate of the respected United States-based Gallup organisation before Kibaki this week responded to the fierce criticism by reshuffling his cabinet and demoting internal security minister Chris Murungaru, whose office was involved in several large-scale graft cases.
The move has been criticised by anti-graft campaigners as too little, too late with many pundits insisting that Murungaru and others, including the finance and justice ministers, should have been sacked outright.
Sixty-six percent of Kenyans said ministers were responsible for corruption, while 41% blamed Kibaki personally, according to the poll which was carried out in Kenya's four largest urban areas among voting age adults.
Under heavy donor pressure, Kibaki has renewed pledges to battle corruption which swept him to power in 2002 although some damage to foreign assistance has already been done.
The United States this month suspended its anti-corruption funding to Kenya and the European Union - the country's single largest collective donor - along with Japan and Canada have warned they may review future aid programs.
Alarm bells were sounded early this month when British high commissioner to Kenya, Edward Clay, said Kibaki had failed to prevent "massive looting" of public funds.
Clay's comments prompted fierce criticism from government officials, with Foreign Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere notably dismissing the envoy as an "incorrigible liar."
But, according to the poll, 66% of Kenyans believe diplomats like Clay, are justified in speaking out about government corruption. Only 20% disagreed, while 14% had no opinion.
And, 52% of Kenyans approved of donor threats to freeze assistance, according to the poll.
The survey was published a day after the finance ministry said it would no longer include most foreign aid in the country's budget due to the uncertainty of its disbursement.