We will ever learn and end mega scandals?
The Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and (inset) Indian billionaire Gautam Adani.
Mega scams in Kenya involving billions of shillings have been common in almost all the regimes that have ruled Kenya since independence. Will we ever learn as a country and end this shameful problem?
The Goldenberg scandal, with its main player Kamlesh Pattni, has refused to completely go away. The media is once again awash with stories of Pattni and his gold export exploits after his hand was caught in the cookie jar in Zimbabwe. It is a story of same monkeys but a different country.
In the era immediately after independence, one major scandal that almost tainted the friendship of President Jomo Kenyatta and his bosom friend Paul Ngei involved our staple food—maize. It was a scandal that almost ended Ngei’s political career.
Raised hopes
Then came the Goldenberg in scandal in the President Daniel Moi era. The commission of inquiry into the scam, led by Justice Samuel Bosire, raised hopes of action, but it ended up being just like others—those whose names smelled like skunks kept what they had stolen and went home laughing.
President Mwai Kibaki administration came in with the promise to fight corruption, but it was not to be. Most of his trusted friends were felled by the same hydra. In the Grand Coalition Government with Raila Odinga, a maize scandal almost ended now President William Ruto’s political career. Mr Odinga sacked him but Kibaki saved him.
In the UhuruRuto government of 2013 to 2022, the stench of theft wafted through. This time, dams were the favourite for the masters of sleaze. Great men in government here too were felled in the now famous Kimwarer and Arror dams projects in which billions of shillings were lost.
The fresh Pattni saga triggers the question: Has the Kenyan government learnt from its previous mistakes and experience to prevent a repeat of the mega scandals that make us a pariah in the world?
It is said people learn from past mistakes. It however will not be surprising in Kenya to hear of another major mega scandal soon.
David M. Kigo, Nairobi
