You do not need a Ph.D. to know that Kenyans are fed up with news of corruption. If you have a smartphone and some internet bundles, all you need to do is to log into social media sites and read the comments and opinions Kenyans have about the recent corruption scandal at the National Youth Service (NYS). It has reached a level where not even a single Kenyan is purporting to the sideline with the NYS suspects or even sympathize with them.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) have made huge strides in their investigation process and possible prosecutions of suspected looters of NYS. Close to 20 suspects have been arrested including the director general of NYS Richard Ndubai and the supplier of 'air' Anne Girita. Public Service Principal Secretary Lilian Omollo has also presented herself to the DCI.
More than 40 suspects are targeted for prosecution. This move by DCI and DPP has taken many Kenyans by surprise. In most corruption cases, the looters have never been brought to book. They have always gotten away with it. The far they have gone is to present themselves to be grilled by the Parliamentary accounts committee (PAC) and maybe make a few court appearances. Most graft cases have never gone past that. They are always dragged in courts until Kenyans forget. But this time around, it seems it will not be business as usual.
Are the DCI and DPP finally growing teeth? Kenyans are tired of corruption and the way the DCI and DPP will handle this particular scandal will either bring back their lost hopes or push them further into oblivion. To arrest is one thing and to prosecute is another thing altogether. I just hope that the DCI and DPP are not stage managing these arrests to blind Kenyans that they are serious about ending corruption in Kenya.