Lessons from Singapore on graft challenges

In late 1986, the then Minister for National Development Teh Cheang Wan, was also investigated for accepting bribes amounting to $1 million, for helping property developers to retain or acquire state land. Teh initially denied wrongdoing but later tried to strike a bargain with the CPIB. He also sought to meet then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew—who rejected his request.

Days before he could be formally charged in court, Teh took his own life and left behind a letter expressing his remorse. And in 1970’s, the then Minister of State for the Environment, Wee Toon Boon, was found to have used his ministerial position to favour a property developer who rewarded him with a free trip and $800,000 bribe. Wee was charged and convicted in 1975.

It is extremely refreshing to note that that there is a renewed interest in fighting corruption in Kenya, with support from the highest office in the land. Many national heroes have fought this vice over the years, and many have been sadly silenced and sidelined. Competent and honest public servants have been criticised and called fools for not partaking in this national past time.

It is encouraging to observe heroic efforts from various public servants in county, national governments and state corporations call out corruption without fear. It is more laudable to hear his Excellency the President calling out MPs who engage in corrupt practices.

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With support from the highest office, I am hopeful that this vicious vice will soon see its death bed and Kenya will rise from the ashes to the full potential it has been denied.

Even though in the 1950’s and 60’s Singapore was mired in crime, disorder and corruption, it went through an intentional shift that eliminated the vice and resulted in a huge developmental dividend for the country.

To implement this transition, the People’s Action Party managed to build its reputation on running a clean and honest government that is free of corruption. To achieve this requires that the country strengthened its CPIB through intentional enabling legislation that gave CPIB officers powers to investigate, arrest and prosecute perpetrators.

A look at Singapore revealed that penalties for corruption were increased. It also signals the importance of the anti-corruption body and that the CPIB was structured to report directly to the Prime Minister.

What came out also is that no one was considered above the law, no matter their status. Several cabinet ministers were successfully tried and punished swiftly, seriously and publicly. Looking at these high-level convictions, the support of the highest level of leadership was essential.

The Singapore case studies on public institutions confirm that integrity was understood as honesty and incorruptibility, especially at all levels of public service, where resources are considered sacred; only to be applied for the good of the people and the country.

There are well documented cases in Singapore for successful high-level convictions reported in Singapore’s Civil Service College website. And since Kenyans anti-corruption agency has been seeking prosecutorial powers for many years, it is high time these powers were granted if this battle is to be won.

Such a move will stop a situation where scarce resources end up in the hefty bank accounts of a few individuals, while service delivery in critical sectors of the economy grind to a halt. But a country cannot develop when its leaders shamelessly embrace corruption-one focused on personal self-enrichment at the expense of national development.

There are many lessons to learn from Singapore, a state that has managed to claim its place on the world stage after taming the hydra-headed dragon of corruption and poor governance.

Kenya can comfortably learn from Singapore by paying off all its public debt, meet its budgetary needs and propel the nation to the first world status-those that have managed to address corruption effectively.

Many leaders and academicians are optimistic that given the high-level intention to fight corruption and looking at the future, which is already digitised, this can be achieved.