Former Kenya International Conference Centre (KICC) chair Irungu Nyakera has urged Kenyans to stop accepting corruption as a fact of life, warning that graft continues to drain the country of vital resources.
His remarks came after The Standard highlighted the muted public reaction to repeated multi-billion shilling corruption scandals.
In a statement on X, Nyakera noted that Kenya loses over KES 1 trillion annually to corruption, money that could transform the nation’s public services and infrastructure.
“We lose over KES 1 trillion every year to graft, yet we are permanently broke,” he said. “Kenyans must stop normalising corruption.”
He stressed that the stolen funds could cover a wide array of national priorities. According to Nyakera, this money could clear.
over KES 700 billion in pending bills, reduce the fiscal deficit to 4% or less, support small businesses, build and maintain roads, deliver water to every household, hire teachers and nurses, fully fund capitation to make education free, and establish 47 Level 7 hospitals—one in every county.
Nyakera criticized the tendency to attribute Kenya’s economic challenges to revenue shortages.
“As I have always said, Kenya does not have a revenue problem. We have a corruption and prioritisation problem,” he noted.
He called for leadership committed to genuinely fighting graft rather than tolerating wasteful spending.
The former KICC chair’s comments follow a Standard report that highlighted the stark contrast between Kenya’s rampant corruption and the daily struggles of ordinary citizens.
The newspaper cited examples such as overcrowded schools, hospitals turning away patients unable to pay medical bills, and agricultural produce rotting due to poor road networks.
At the county level, some governors have been accused of extravagant spending on political rallies, housewarming parties, and even Christmas decorations, diverting funds intended for small businesses.
Nyakera emphasized that such practices are unsustainable and urged Kenyans to demand accountability.
“We deserve leadership that will genuinely fight corruption,” he said.
His remarks underline the growing frustration among citizens and experts who warn that unchecked graft undermines economic growth, public trust, and service delivery.
As Kenya faces persistent fiscal challenges, voices like Nyakera’s push for a renewed focus on transparency, prioritization of public resources, and strict enforcement of anti-corruption measures.
Without decisive action, he warned, citizens will continue bearing the brunt of both systemic inefficiency and stolen public funds.
This call comes at a time when public outrage over corruption remains high in rhetoric but often muted in action, highlighting the gap between awareness and meaningful accountability in Kenya’s fight against graft.