Corruption in Kenya is not just a vice but a systemic ailment woven into the fabric of governance, public administration, and business transactions. Newspaper headlines scream daily about billions siphoned off by public sector leaders. It is an open secret that many of the wealthiest Kenyans have amassed their fortunes not through innovation, hard work, or fair enterprise but through dubious dealings, often in collusion with those in power.

From the infamous  Goldenberg scandal of the 1990s to the Anglo Leasing scam and more recent financial heists, Kenya has been drained of its resources by its leaders—individuals who once presented themselves as moral crusaders but, upon gaining power, became the architects of the very corruption they previously condemned.

Sometimes, I observe people flocking to churches and mosques, praying and seeking salvation. However, as soon as they leave these sacred spaces, they head straight to cut deals that earn them millions without necessarily working hard. This behaviour has become an accepted cultural norm. The societal expectation is that if you don’t have much money, you are not recognised and at times, you are despised.