Civil Society, Clergy Decry Rampant Corruption In Bungoma

By Isabella Maua

Civil society organisations and clergy in Bungoma have come up against rampant corruption, mismanagement and misappropriation of public funds within the county.

Speaking during a training on social justice and movement building organised by INUKA NI SISI KENYA, the CSO’s chairperson, Ezekiel Odeoh, emphasised their fight to achieve a fair and equal society for all.

“This milestone signifies a crucial advancement in enhancing citizen-driven accountability, promoting social fairness, and fortifying movements for positive change in our county,” he reiterated.

According to Ven Dr Kimtai Chesosi, an Anglican clergyman, activism isn’t a privilege, but it’s rent we pay for the life we hunger for.

“The church can’t afford to be quiet and watch from a distance; let us all be objective in examining the leaders we want before casting our votes so that we don’t regret it later,” he advised.

Ven Dr Chesosi further challenged the leaders in power to exercise their powers positively with focus and concern for the people they’re leading.

INUKA NI SISI KENYA also vowed to walk with stakeholders from different organisations and calibres to ensure ethnic, cultural, religious, socio-economic and political diversity is appreciated across the country.

Prof. Barasa Nyukuri of Torch Africa, on the other hand, divulged their advocacy for mass rejection of the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Senate No. 2 Bill, 2024, that has been passed by parliament.

“We urge all Kenyans to reject any attempt by parliament and the executive to enact a backdoor constitutional amendment of the constitution of Kenya to extend the term of office for the president, senators, governors, MPs and women representatives in the 47 counties,” he reiterated.

In a joint statement by the Bungoma Civil Society Forum, the stakeholders appealed to the National Treasury to allocate adequate resources to enable the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) to organise, supervise and conduct free, fair and credible elections across Kenya.

This, they say, is the citizens’ right, as the taxpayers have to get value for their money.

They also observed that Bungoma is awash with corruption, tribalism, nepotism, all forms of discrimination, bad leadership and unaccountability among leaders, something they’ve vowed to fight tirelessly.

In conclusion, the CSOs pledged to establish, support, and maintain a county government that encourages equal employment opportunities, contracts, tenders, and investment opportunities in order to guarantee effective infrastructure, high-quality services, and sustainable development.