Kenya 'losing' corruption war

2005-08-10 13:33

Nairobi - Kenya's justice minister has admitted his government is losing the fight against corruption and vowed a "ruthless" anti-graft war in a stark admission of longstanding donor complaints, in remarks published on Wednesday.

In a rare acknowledgement of rampant official malfeasance and failing efforts to curb such abuses, Kiraitu Murungi said the credibility of President Mwai Kibaki's government was on the line as corruption persisted despite repeated vows to end it.

"The fight against corruption has lost momentum," he said in a Tuesday speech to officials with several anti-graft agencies. "Kenyans have become skeptical. They are disillusioned. Our strategy is being dismissed as mere pretence.

'Corruption networks still operating '

"It is said to be a 'talk and do nothing' strategy," Murungi said. The old networks of corruption have not been broken. They have become very bold. They are no longer afraid of our talk about corruption."

He then reeled off a lengthy list of persistent allegations including "bribery, embezzlement, fraud, extortion, nepotism, buying of votes, abuse of power, conflict of interest, judicial corruption and misappropriation of public funds".

"The impunity of yesterday persists," said Murungi. "We must destroy these networks without mercy. We must be ruthless."

Graft costing a fortune

"We have spent some time aiming at the enemy. Time has now come for us to pull the trigger and spill blood," he said.

Kibaki's opposition coalition swept into power in 2002 elections largely on promises to reign in the rampant corruption but his administration has come under stinging criticism in recent months for failing to follow through on those pledges.

Donors estimate that graft has cost the Kenyan government up to a $1bn since 2002, nearly a fifth of the country's 2004 to 2005 official government spending of about $5.5bn.

Because of corruption, Germany and the United States have withheld millions of dollars in aid and other donors have warned of consequences if inaction on graft continues.

- AFP