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Kenyan protesters roll out after officials pour small fortune into wheelbarrows Kenyan protesters roll out after officials pour small fortune into wheelbarrows
(about 1 hour later)
Protesters in Kenya marched on local government offices after officials bought 10 wheelbarrows at a total cost equating of around £6,500. Protesters in Kenya marched on local government offices after officials bought 10 wheelbarrows at a total cost equating to around £6,500.
County officials in western Kenya’s Bungoma district reportedly splashed out over a million shillings (US$10,000/€9,300) on the wheelbarrows, more than 30 times the market price and roughly enough to buy a small secondhand car. County officials in western Kenya’s Bungoma district reportedly splashed out over a million shillings (US$10,000/€9,000) on the wheelbarrows, more than 30 times the market price and roughly enough to buy a small secondhand car.
Related: Kenya's rampant corruption is eating away at the very fabric of democracy | John GithongoRelated: Kenya's rampant corruption is eating away at the very fabric of democracy | John Githongo
Each wheelbarrow, to be used in government slaughterhouses, reportedly cost 109,320 Kenyan shillings, according to the Standard newspaper. Local traders said the normal price was about 3,000 shillings. Each wheelbarrow, to be used in government slaughterhouses, reportedly cost 109,320 Kenyan shillings, according to the Standard newspaper. Local traders said the normal price was about 3,000 shillings.
Some angry citizens pushed others through Bungoma in wheelbarrows to protest against the alleged graft. Kenya is struggling to combat corruption, with a report in July by the country’s auditor general revealing that only 1% of government spending was properly accounted for. Some angry citizens pushed others through Bungoma in wheelbarrows to protest against the alleged graft. Kenya is struggling to combat corruption, with a report in July by the country’s auditor general revealing that only 1% of government spending was properly accounted for.
"Fraud of the highest order" reported in $1000 wheelbarrows bought by Kenya's Bungoma county http://t.co/gy7BoscHrv pic.twitter.com/sqeYVg87sa"Fraud of the highest order" reported in $1000 wheelbarrows bought by Kenya's Bungoma county http://t.co/gy7BoscHrv pic.twitter.com/sqeYVg87sa
Kenya, which is placed 145th out of 174 on Transparency International’s annual corruption index, has long been blighted by graft.Kenya, which is placed 145th out of 174 on Transparency International’s annual corruption index, has long been blighted by graft.
“A few individuals are ‘eating’ while many are suffering,” said local senator Moses Wetang’ula, who leads the main opposition party in Kenya’s national upper house, according to the Standard newspaper.“A few individuals are ‘eating’ while many are suffering,” said local senator Moses Wetang’ula, who leads the main opposition party in Kenya’s national upper house, according to the Standard newspaper.
“This is not acceptable. Let a thorough audit be carried out and the responsible officers sent packing.”“This is not acceptable. Let a thorough audit be carried out and the responsible officers sent packing.”
Photographs in Kenyan media showed basic-looking metal wheelbarrows but officials said they were expensive because they were made of special stainless steel and might help prevent cancer.Photographs in Kenyan media showed basic-looking metal wheelbarrows but officials said they were expensive because they were made of special stainless steel and might help prevent cancer.
Governor Ken Lusaka defended the purchase in the Daily Nation, claiming they were “not the ordinary wheelbarrows that we know. These wheelbarrows are made of stainless, non-carcinogenic material and are used in the food industry”. But he ordered investigations into their procurement.Governor Ken Lusaka defended the purchase in the Daily Nation, claiming they were “not the ordinary wheelbarrows that we know. These wheelbarrows are made of stainless, non-carcinogenic material and are used in the food industry”. But he ordered investigations into their procurement.
In Kenya public office is often seen as a route to personal enrichment, as US President Barack Obama noted in July while standing alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta as he visited Kenya.In Kenya public office is often seen as a route to personal enrichment, as US President Barack Obama noted in July while standing alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta as he visited Kenya.
“People aren’t stupid,” the US president said.“People aren’t stupid,” the US president said.
“If they see an elected official and they know that their salary is there, and suddenly they’re driving through town in a very big car, and they see their cousin driving through town with a very big car, and they’re suddenly building a new house, and all that doesn’t seem to match up with their salary, they don’t have to be a forensic accountant to know what’s going on,” he said.“If they see an elected official and they know that their salary is there, and suddenly they’re driving through town in a very big car, and they see their cousin driving through town with a very big car, and they’re suddenly building a new house, and all that doesn’t seem to match up with their salary, they don’t have to be a forensic accountant to know what’s going on,” he said.