Soft and hard corruption practices are deeply rooted in many systems and policies in the world. Even with active policies and structures to reduce corruption, accountability and transparency have to be deeply rooted in the values and culture of a nation. Coronavirus pandemic has tested the limits that countries have on integrity. More tests in form of economic frustrations and political uncertainty among others will continue to challenge the beliefs that people and their leaders have. It is upon institutions to create robust systems that eradicate systemic corruption and vows for a fair and justifiable life.

It is estimated that since 2011 Kenya has been losing an average of Ksh 40 billion every year to illicit financial flows through corruption, tax evasion, and other fraudulent practices that rob the country of required resources for economic growth. The petition has been endorsed by 40 signatories, both individuals, and Civil Society Organisations, all calling for expedited efforts to recover these assets and the need for a well-established mechanism for the use of the repatriated funds.

We have noted with great concern, gaps in transparency, and accountability by government agencies charged with managing COVID-19 resources. The National Treasury in the spirit of conforming to the Presidential Directive should issue a policy directive in the next 30 days, that allows the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to recommend sanctions against procuring entities that fail to comply with the Executive Order No. 2 of 2018.

County governments need to invest in and utilize interactive communication channels with broad reach and provide adequate notice for such fora to enable citizens to plan accordingly for the meetings. In regard to engagement between elected leaders and citizens, there is a clear need for leaders to set aside specific days to engage directly with citizens as low opportunities of engagement diminish the citizens’ ability to hold their leaders to account

The proposed Council further undermines the independence of the Office of the Inspector General. The current proposal envisages a Council chaired by the Internal Security Cabinet Secretary, Internal Security Principal Secretary, Police Inspector General, and two senior members of the National Police Service all appointed by the President. Should this proposal pass in its current form, the country will be predictably returned to an era when the police acted and were perceived as an extension of the ruling executive.

Corruption starts a long chain of wrongful benefits that, when abandoned, can save millions in valued time and resources. Many Kenyans know that a visit to the county or social services office demands patience, and to beat the long lines, many wake up before sunlight only to wait for a government official that will show up 4 hours past opening hours. Data from Transparency International indicates that at least a quarter of African’s youngest and poorest citizens must pay bribes every day to survive.

Before the coming into force of the 2010 Constitution, the youth were a highly neglected part of the Kenyan society in terms of the laws put in place to ensure their protection and representation. For instance, the most notorious clause in this law was the anti-discrimination clause, Section 82, which excluded age as a ground for discrimination. In this law, age was only mentioned as a cap for retiring from and qualifying for certain positions or as a justification for the limitation of certain rights.

The former Kenyan constitutional dispensation made no mention of persons with disabilities. The 1963 Constitution outlawed discrimination on various grounds such as race, tribe, color but omitted discrimination on the basis of disability. This evidences the manner in which the previous legal system overlooked the rights of persons with disabilities. However, other sectors made efforts in championing for these rights.