Corruption in Kenya has been a problem that the Country is still struggling to address. Whilst President Uhuru Kenyatta promises to leave no stone unturned in the fight against graft, he is fought from different corners within his own government!
Senate Assembly Speaker Kenneth Lusaka on Friday challenged young parliamentarians to have integrity, confidence and patriotism, if they are to leave behind any meaningful legacy.
According to Lusaka, corruption in Kenya is rampant because young people are exposed to it at a very tender age, and continues to thrive even more because of lack of patriotism.
“The problem of this massive corruption starts at a very early age. A child starts by stealing one spoon of sugar, graduates to one kilo, then graduates to steal a whole factory, and because there is no one to guide them, that is how people end up being corrupt,” said Lusaka.
Speaking during a two-day retreat of the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association (KYPA) at Whitesands Hotel Mombasa, Lusaka challenged the young legislators to relook their behaviour.
“Some of these legislators we see around had these traits (corrupt) at a very tender age. We have a responsibility to relook into our integrity. Integrity is what you do when no one is seeing you, if you can resist a bribe, when no one is seeing you, then that is integrity,” said Lusaka.
Lusaka said young leaders ought to be patriotic to their nation.
“How patriotic are we? Love your country, that is very important,” he said.
At the same time, Lusaka said young leaders need to be confident in their leadership roles.
He said the number of young legislators, who are below 35 years of age, increased from 27 during the 2013 General Election to 41 in the 2017 polls.
At the County Assemblies the situation is even more promising. We have about 1,027 young MCAs. Therefore, I challenge you to be confident and also come up with legislations that support the youth, “he said.