Poverty is no crime; It’s the ‘reward’ of public resources theft

By TEE NGUGI

Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua has called for full disclosure and accountability regarding Covid-19 funds sourced from companies and private individuals. This has come amidst allegations that the funds have been misappropriated or stolen. This scam follows allegations that Covid-19 equipment donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma was stolen.

Stealing from the public by government officials in cahoots with underworld cartels has created one of the most unequal societies in the world. The Kenyan rich, mostly politicians, lead fabled lifestyles with investments abroad. At the same time, majority of the people lead a hand-to-mouth existence.

This grim view is not a result of “afro-pessimism”, a condition said to afflict those who look at the reality of Africa and call it as it is. The 2020 Comprehensive Poverty Report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) paints an even grimmer reality of the Kenyan situation. The report indicates that a staggering 15.9 million Kenyans live below the poverty line. And using the multidimensional poverty index that measures access to seven basic needs, the report found 23.4 million Kenyans to be poor.

This report is important because it does not only tell us in numbers that the country is not doing well, it also indicates the areas in which we need to invest to reduce the incidence of absolute and multidimensional poverty. These areas are health, education, nutrition, housing and water among others. Not surprisingly, the government agencies in charge of these areas are some of the most corrupt and inefficiently run. The fishy business involving the Covid-19 millions of shillings and the award of shady Covid-related contracts in the counties show that management of the health sector at national and county levels is mired in ineptitude and corruption.

Some weeks ago, MP John Waluke was sentenced to a lengthy jail term or a hefty fine for theft of close to Sh300 million ($3 million) from the National Cereals and Produce Board, a body that is supposed to ensure food security, an area identified as deficient by the KNBS report. Yet the poverty-stricken residents of his constituency protested the sentence. They fail, as we all do, to see the causal relationship between theft and poverty.

Since independence, government has given detailed policy statements on food security while its officials gallivant all over the world, attending conferences on the same. As we have known, this illusion of making progress while actually remaining stagnant has all been a waste of time. This smoke-and-mirrors occasions further loss of money.

The KNBS report is evidence that we cannot reduce or end poverty at the current levels of thievery. It is akin to someone trying to draw water with a bucket full of holes. There is activity, yes, but the results remain the same. Either we take an uncompromising stand against thievery or we end this pretense at fighting poverty.