Page 35 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 8

CUMMUNITY

why the United Nations came up is unfathomable and they are many of authority, really, are very unfair
with the United Nations Conven- and they are quick to recruit others to us.
tion Against Corruption and Kenya, into their scheme of things, so it’s We can’t pay our doctors USD600.
for example, was the first country not going to be easy. But the voice We can’t pay our academics - the
to both sign and ratify the treaty of reason must continue to be alive highest-paid professor in this
in Mérida in Mexico. Afrika itself and well and governments must country does not earn more than
came up with the Convention for continue to work at it, we must also KES300,000 (USD3,000) and our
Preventing and Combating Corrup- work with our younger generation, MPs in Kenya, in Nigeria and many
tion and we have our own Anti-cor- the TikTok generation or the mil- countries are the best paid in the
ruption Act here in Kenya, and lennials must be told that indeed it world, relative to our GDP. It is
many other countries have created is not right to reap where you’ve not sad. If you want to get rich quick-
specialized bodies that are specif- sown. And if we send this message ly, the shortest avenue is to be a
ically designed and mandated to and we speak about this message politician in Afrika, save for very
fight corruption. But corruption has often, then I have no doubt in my few countries. That is the quickest.
become a way of life particularly for mind that we will ultimately get It’s robbery without violence, it’s
those who are in the political arena where we want to be. So it’s not robbery by legislation. You simply
that is what makes it very difficult to going to be easy but we have a duty legislate money to come your way
fight. Look at your typical Afrikan to do it. and it comes. We must stop this
politician. Look at what they legiti- nonsense going forward and voices
mately earn and what they own and ONE OF YOUR POPULAR must be there that are raising them
their lifestyles, they cannot explain QUOTES SAYS, "WE LIVE IN on a daily basis.
it, but for corruption. A COUNTRY WHERE OUR
And therefore, if you pay school YOUNG LADIES WHO HAVE IT MAKES NO SENSE, OUR
fees through corruption, if the car RECENTLY ATTAINED THE PRIORITIES ARE IN THE
you drive is through corruption, if AGE OF PUBERTY CANNOT WRONG PLACE.
your entire lifestyle is underwritten AFFORD SANITARY PADS, It’s prioritization, this is what I will
by corruption, you can only pay lip BUT OUR MEN AND WOMEN conclude with, that going forward,
service to corruption, because you IN PUBLIC OFFICES HAVE Afrika must prioritize what is in her
cannot lead by example and you IPADS, WHICH THEY DO best interest. She must know what
cannot have your words wedded to NOT EVEN KNOW HOW TO will improve the quality of the lives
your deeds. And the problem in USE." WHAT WAS THE BACK- of her people. She must know what
Afrika is there is impunity, people DROP TO THIS PARTICULAR she must do in order to carry her
steal without a consequence. They QUOTE? weight politically, economically and
are not punished for it. But I’m I think I said that in Uganda at a otherwise and this requires that we
beginning to be happy now because forum where we were talking about must have unity and that unity must
people are getting punished. the girl child I think and there were be within the continent, that unity
I know Kenya is already beginning, parliamentarians in the assembly must also bring our people from
despite many problems, one can and in effect I was saying, we’ve got the Diaspora. This is the time that
see an attempt to deal with the to prioritize and I think there was we must work together and make
scourge. And one can also see an a rhyme to sanitary pads and iPads sure we are present in the aviation,
attempt in Rwanda for example, in and I wanted to send the message we are present in insurance, we are
quite a number of Afrikan, even firmly but politely. And the truth is, present in banks, we are present in
in Nigeria or even in Ghana, there even if one were to expand on what infrastructure, we are present in ev-
is an attempt now to deal with I was saying, the sanitary pad could ery sector and we are trading within
the scourge of graft and to pun- stand for anything. That you have ourselves. If we do that, I have no
ish those individuals and even to countries where the minister has a doubt in my mind that, if God gives
seize the property that they have motorcade and the per diem, the us life, we’ll begin to see the early
acquired illegally. This, I think, is a mileage claims for a single MP for fruits of that prioritization and that
good thing. It is not a fight for the example in Kenya is more than the organization. It will be done and it
faint-hearted, it is not going to be salary of 100 teachers. It cannot be must be done and it’s you and me
easy because the children of dark- right. So if you look at it from that who must play our part.
ness are ever a step ahead of the perspective I’m simply saying that
children of light and their resolve our men and women in positions

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