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Wednesday 13 April 2016

'bribe taking' hits international media headlines

"homeland of the bribe"

EACC officers search traffic police officers arrested while taking bribes in Kilifi in June 2015. Photo/ALPHONCE GARI
EACC officers search traffic police officers arrested while taking bribes in Kilifi in June 2015. Photo/ALPHONCE GARI

The rot in Kenya's systems has attracted international media, earning the country the reputation of being the "homeland of the bribe".

A 10-minute video aired by PBS on Monday tells of the rampant corruption in institutions ranging from sports to banks.

The documentary which is part of the 'Inside Kenya' mini series starts with an account by athlete Hillary Kiplimo of how their earnings are sometimes taken away.

Athletics Kenya CEO Isaac Mwangi was accused by two athletes, who failed drugs tests, of seeking bribes to reduce their doping suspensions.

Kiplimo said he received a medal but not a cent of his $3,500 (Sh354,000) earning, which he said vanished among officials of Athletics Kenya.

Interviewed Eastleigh residents said they are used to the bribery. They referred to the estate as an ATM machine "because police take so much money".

A police officer interviewed said what they earn is not enough so they cannot refuse to take what residents offer.

A report indicated that Kenyans perceive the police, judiciary and Lands ministry as the most corrupt officials in Kenya.

Among the people interviewed was activist Boniface Mwangi who has in the past tried to fight corruption by taking to the streets.

"Corruption in this country starts from the presidency to the judiciary, to the legislature. So all arms of the government are rotten," Mwangi told narrator Nick Schiprin.

Schiprin is a former foreign correspondent with Aljazeera Television Network.

The Eurobond scandal was not left out on the documentary, former Governance Permanent Secretary John Githongo saying: "We steal from ourselves".

"The corruption we have now poses an existential risk to Kenya. With the Eurobond, we are mortgaging the futures of our children."

The EACC said it found no evidence that part of the Sh250 billion Eurobond proceeds was stolen by government officials.

But Cord leader Raila Odinga said  "Kenyans are not fools to be tossed around like tennis balls when it is clear the money never landed in the Central Bank account".

PBS is the most prominent provider of programmes to public television stations in the United States.

The ten mini-documentary series is titled "How widespread corruption is hurting Kenya" .

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