Ongoing political wrangling in Kenya's coalition government is having a major detrimental effect on its fight against corruption, a lobbying group warns.
Transparency International warned Kenya risked turning into a failed state. A rift in the fragile power-sharing government developed after PM Raila Odinga announced the suspension of two ministers after corruption scandals.
President Mwai Kibaki annulled the suspensions, saying the Mr Odinga did not have the power to take the action. The head of Transparency International in Kenya, Job Ogonda, said the political dispute in Kenya's coalition government was sending out a very dangerous message.
It was showing that the struggle for power was more important than the fight against corruption and this, he said, would have dire consequences come the next election. "In 2012 it's very likely we're going to have a meltdown," said Mr Ogonda.
"We have the significant risk that Kenya will be generating to a failed state. "This is how in Sierra Leone and indeed Liberia were fomented: the executive being eliminated and oblivious for the failed state risks that corruption causes especially where the population is young, educated and unemployed".
Fighting corruption in Kenya is a difficult - some would say impossible task. Mr Ogonda said his staff had been threatened on several occasions.
Source: BBC
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