The Kenyan government is currently seeking $500 million in budget support from international donors to help pay for drought relief efforts. The problem is that most international donors are reluctant to provide the sought-after assistance because of the reports of endemic corruption in the government. Agriculture minister William Ruto is currently facing political pressure over mishandling of substantial quantities of maize which had been designated for the poor.
The majority of the maize in question is unaccounted for, and the rumours suggest that Members of Parliament have benefitted personally from the missing maize, while the poor have been left to go hungry. Ruto himself is no stranger to accusations of corruption, as he is currently facing unresolved charges associated with an alleged corrupt land dealing. Mysteriously, Kenyan politicians charged with corruption never actually seem to get convicted.
This leaves donors with a dilemma: do you refuse to hand over the money, and let the famine-affected people starve, or do you give the money as requested, knowing that there is a high risk that a significant proportion of it will be stolen by corrupt politicians and officials? Any donor who has the temerity to seek assurances that corrupt officials will be made to account risks being accused of interfering in the internal affairs of the country.