{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Standard Digital News - Kenya : God save us if they ate chicken from UK

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000152315&story_title=Kenya-god-save-us-if-they-ate-chicken-from-uk

Standard Digital News - Kenya : God save us if they ate chicken from UK

We should not prejudge as guilty the chaps linked by a UK court to the so-called ' Chickengate' scandal where it is alleged that Kenyan officials were bribed to selectively award examination and election material tenders.

The rules of natural justice demand that one cannot be condemned either unheard or declared guilty just by association even though the English would argue an apple does not fall far from the tree.

That is not our business to fathom; it is up to the investigators to listen to those adversely mentioned, see if there is any evidence they can lay their hands on, and only when they feel their case can stand the scrutiny of court, activate the judicial process.

But aside from the reality of the law, unfortunately for those squirming in the seats of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission's waiting room awaiting their turn to face the interrogators, this is a country driven by perception, innuendo and a widely held belief that money can subvert justice.

Some have little faith in the EACC because of the perennial claim it is 'blind' to the big fish who fleece public resources, and only goes after small fish like clerks and traffic policemen.

Then there is the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions whose story should be left for another day.

So you can imagine the muck through which the credibility of our electoral and examinations process has suffered by the mere fact that Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chairman Issack Hassan is recording statements on alleged bribery by some Brits at Integrity Centre as I write this column.

The former secretary of the Kenya National Examinations Council, Paul Wasanga, who was just settling down to retirement, has also been pulled out to face the glare of cameras amid accusations that he too may have 'eaten' a piece of the chicken, which is the codename improvised for email messages to mean inducement fees.

Whether these guys actually got a piece of the chicken, even just the drumstick, or are victims of rumours and poor evidence - for it will have to be proven that one Trevor Oyombra actually delivered the bribes he is alleged to have 'negotiated' as a 'broker' - there are several issues sticking out that just won't go away any time soon.

Top of them is the fact that personal integrity is the pillar of our institutions, especially those dealing with exams and elections.

This is because the offices are too susceptible to manipulation to give 'doctored' results. As lawyers say, the holders of these offices should be like Caesar's wife; above suspicion.

‎Everyone is on the take - doctors for the flimsy excuse of filling abstract forms; media guys fall prey to the inducement to file 'good' stories; lecturers for better grades... the story is indeed depressing.

The point is that it would be terribly unfair to our nation if the allegations against those summoned to EACC turn out to be unsupported by evidence or that the EACC smelt a rat, but just moved in to mitigate the criticism that there are sacred cows beyond the stretch of its arm.

But if the opposite turns out to be true, then we shall sit back, curl our tails and concede that those we put in high office are indeed products of our society and, therefore, a true reflection of ourselves.

Cry the beloved country.

Standard Digital News - Kenya : God save us if they ate chicken from UK
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000152315&story_title=Kenya-god-save-us-if-they-ate-chicken-from-uk‎

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Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.