When the 24-year-long reign of Daniel arap Moi ended in 2002, Kenyans looked to their new democratically elected government to end pervasive corruption and fix the economy. The new president, Mwai Kibaki, quickly appointed John Githongo as Kenya’s anti-corruption czar and took tentative steps to make the government more transparent. Veteran Africa correspondent Michela Wrong charts Githongo’s losing fight. As hopeful beginning gave way to disappointment, Githongo realized that the new ruling elite—including people closest to the president—partook in grand corruption with the same gusto as the old. Kibaki’s lack of concern at Githongo’s findings was only matched by the resolve of most Western governments and aid agencies to ignore widespread corruption so that more aid dollars could flow to Kenya.
It’s Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistleblower
(HarperCollins, 2009)
Featuring the author Michela Wrong, with comments by Frank Vogl, President of Vogl Communications, Inc., Former Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of Transparency International. Moderated by Marian Tupy, Policy Analyst, Cato Institute.