Transparency International (TI) Kenya has opposed a move by Kiharu MP Irungu Kang’ata to amend Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act to impose the death penalty on those guilty of corruption.
TI Executive Director Samuel Kimeu found the lawmaker’s move “misdirected and diversionary”.
“Our position is informed by two reasons. First, the imposition of the death penalty for any offence has been a divisive issue in Kenya. Even though the death penalty is still in our statute books, there is very strong sentiment against it. There exists an effective moratorium on executions that tilts the balance in favour of those against the death penalty in Kenya.
“Secondly, the debate on the death penalty unnecessarily diverts attention from the important work of strengthening our justice system to ensure there are no gaps that the corrupt use to escape justice. So far, the frustration of many Kenyans is that there are very few people who are being held to account successfully through the legal system.”
Kimeu said the effectiveness of any legal system was founded not on the extremity of the sanctions thereof, but on the consistency of enforcement. “There is very little utility in allowing for extreme sanctions even if the seemingly lenient ones are hardly delivered. The sanctions for corruption in our statute books if stringently enforced, coupled with upholding the principle of equality before the law are sufficient in helping Kenya succeed in fighting corruption.”
New tech against poaching
It’s a race against time for Kenya’s anti-poaching war.
According to wildlife officials, the country lost 18 rhinos and 51 elephants in the first three months of this year, at the hand of poachers who prowl game parks and national wildlife reserves. At least 59 rhinos and 302 elephants were killed last year, compared with 30 rhinos and 384 elephants in 2012.
Now, the wildlife custodian, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), has moved to stepp up its assault on the criminals by acquiring superior digital and solar radio communications technology.
The Sh1.4 billion project funded by the French government will upgrade KWS’s current analogue network to a more robust and enhanced digital platform. Ultimately, it will facilitate KWS’s security operations response to poachers who have killed … rhions and elephants
The new technology has additional capabilities such as GPS tracking, messaging and voice encryption. This is expected to greatly reduce maintenance costs and increase efficiency in communications. This will ultimately ensure timely and accurate responses to cases of human wildlife conflict, poaching and visitor security.
The deal was signed between KWS and Ellipse Projects S.A.S, a French international engineering and contracting company.
The project will be rolled out in the next three months in Tsavo, Southern (Nairobi, Amboseli) and Central Rift (Nakuru and Maasai Mara) Conservation areas.
According to KWS acting Director General William Kiprono, the new technology will assist KWS combat poaching, for the organisation’s officers will have the advantage of an enhanced, secure and efficient radio communication system.
Mr Bruno Schambacher, Vice President of Ellipse Projects S.A.S, said that their solution was fool-proof and would deliver value to KWS in the discharge of its mandate.
Michael Otieno Odhiambo, the Head of Information and Communication Technology said that the new digital radio network would greatly evolve the radio communication strategy for KWS as an organization and enhance security and encryption models in the system, the solar power and backup solutions would be invaluable in remote areas with no grid power.
Robert Muasya, the acting Deputy Director Security, noted that the project was expected to improve security and would reduce the risk of information being compromised. The gadgets will transmit voice and data meaning KWS officers will no longer rely on voice radio only, but also use data communications.
