Monday, April 18, 2016

INSIDE KENYA - Widespread Corruption

"How widespread corruption is hurting Kenya" PBS NewsHour 4/11/2016

COMMENT:  This situation reminds me of the first time I was stationed (when I was in the USN) in the Philippines in the mid 60s.  At that time the Philippines had the same problem with corruption.

Excerpts

SUMMARY:  In Kenya, corruption and bribery are commonplace in law enforcement and the government.  Many police officers seem more interested in keeping citizens' cash than keeping the peace, allowing criminals to get off.  Meanwhile, the government has "misplaced" $999 million.  Special correspondent Nick Schifrin and producer Zach Fannin report in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  Now we continue our series Inside Kenya.

The World Bank says Kenya is growing faster than any other sub-Saharan African country.  But there is one major impediment to the country’s continued growth.

Tonight, in partnership with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, special correspondent Nick Schifrin and producer Zach Fannin examine the reality of Kenyan corruption.

NICK SCHIFRIN (NewsHour):  In Kenya, even the world’s fastest men can’t outrun corruption.

The Rift Valley is known as the Valley of Champions.  The best marathon runners are born here and train here.

Mind if I join you?

Hillary Kiplimo runs three times a day.  He is tireless and fast.  He averages about 4.5 minutes a mile.  It’s tough to keep up.

Whoa.  He’s good.  And that’s slow for him.

After years of training, he finally broke through.  He finished third in last year’s Nairobi Marathon.

HILLARY KIPLIMO, Marathon Runner:  This is for position.

NICK SCHIFRIN:  So, it says number three, because you came in third.

HILLARY KIPLIMO:  Yes.

NICK SCHIFRIN:  He and his wife thought he’d finally fulfilled his dream of running his way out of poverty.  But his dream’s been denied.

So, you got your medal, you got this number three, you got the jersey and you got this, but you never got a cent.

HILLARY KIPLIMO:  I never got a cent.

NICK SCHIFRIN:  On the results Web site, his name was replaced.  And his $3,500 winnings vanished.

So, where’s the money going?

HILLARY KIPLIMO:  I think those people, they kept the money.

NICK SCHIFRIN:  Athletics Kenya, the race organizers.

HILLARY KIPLIMO:  Yes.

NICK SCHIFRIN:  Last November, dozens of runners protested at Athletics Kenya.  The group has exclusive oversight of all Kenyan athletes.

Kenyans hold records in nearly every distance.  They say, as they run faster, Athletics Kenya steals more.  Athletics Kenya didn’t respond to a half-dozen e-mails from “PBS NewsHour.”  Hillary suspects there’s only way to get their attention.
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BONIFACE MWANGI, Activist:  They tear-gassed innocent kids who only wanted to access their playground.  Other countries have mafia.  In Kenya, the mafia have a country.

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