NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 26 – Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Director Patrick Lumumba said on Tuesday that graft should be declared a national disaster.
Prof Lumumba said if it was declared a national disaster, the war against the vice would incorporate all stakeholders just like the war on HIV/Aids.
"I have been saying for the last two weeks that I wish the President could actually declare corruption a national disaster so that we start to deal with it in a totally different level the way we dealt with HIV/Aids," he said during a visit to the Capital Group Limited offices.
Prof Lumumba urged members of the public to join hands with the commission for the country to succeed in the war against corruption.
He said he was particularly keen to involve the youth in the war against graft because they are the majority in the country and suffer most as a result of corruption.
"We want to change our way of communicating to the public, we want to diversify and use means which can reach the youth like Twitter and Facebook," he said.
He was accompanied by KACC Deputy Director Dr John Mutonyi (Investigation and Asset Tracing), Professor Jane Onsongo (Assistant Director, Research) and Wilson Shollei (Assistant Director, Finance).
During the visit, the KACC bosses held talks with Capital Group chairman Chris Kirubi, General Manager Cyrus Kamau, Editorial Director Michael Mumo and Head of the Digital Media Waithera Kabiru among others.
Mr Kirubi pledged Capital FM\’s support in the public campaigns against corruption using both the radio and the station\’s digital media.
"We are very much willing to partner with the commission; the war on corruption is an all-inclusive agenda which we all need to get involved in. Capital Fm and the digital media will definitely partner with the commission," Mr Kirubi said.
Prof Lumumba however, urged Kenyans to be patient and allow the commission to carry out thorough investigations instead of demanding for the outcome within a short period of time.
"Investigations on corruption matters are a complex affair, one that cannot be expected to start and end on the same day, therefore the public should always understand whenever we take long to conclude a single case," he said.
"We need to collect evidence, analyse and make a decision before we involve other government agencies like the Attorney General\’s office for further direction," he added.
Prof Lumumba was responding to comments on Capital FM\’s Facebook page where a section of Kenyans raised concerns over what they termed "slow pace of the KACC investigations."
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