December 12, 2017

Anti-corruption war: Leaving no one behind

located:	Kenya, Botswana
editor:	Bob Koigi

Each year, up to $1 trillion exchange hands in form of bribes, with another $2.6 trillion being stolen through corruption. This represents more than 5% of the world’s GDP. The vice of corruption is especially entrenched in developing countries, with statistics indicating that money lost is 10 times the amount of official development assistance. These staggering figures are also a poignant reminder of the extent to which ordinary citizens continue to miss their rightly deserved public services including health, justice and education – the money instead ends up in the pockets of a few.

As the world recently marked the World Anti-Corruption Day, there has been a call for change in modus operandi if the war on corruption is to be won, considering the this vice has now been normalised in almost all countries.

A study by the East African Institute indicated that half of the youth in Kenya are okey with getting rich through corruption, provided they do not go to jail. These sentiments stem from their frustration; watching mega government scandals unravel with culprits – even though publicly known – walking free or even getting rewarded with plum positions. On the other hand, over 25% of Africans confess to having paid bribes when in need of public service.

Yet these assertions are representative of many countries where corruption has not only diverted resources from development, but also eroded public trust in government institutions, hampered the systems of checks and balances and undermined the rule of law.

In fact, researchers now point to a direct link between corruption and violent extremism – tying this to perceptions of injustice and economic marginalisation. That is why this year’s theme “United against corruption for development, peace and security” couldn’t have been more apt.

It is however not all doom and gloom, as countries like Mauritius and Botswana, where only one percent of the population has been involved in corruption, have shown that strengthening public institutions and reporting mechanisms, embracing technology to reduce human interface, and introducing wealth declaration for civil servants go a long way in the anti-corruption crusade. In the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals, that of leaving no one behind, the war on corruption will be won if we make everyone a part of it.