REVEALED: Why Kenyan youth have fallen in love with ‘hustler money’
More than half of Kenyan youth have no qualms making money using dubious means, according to a survey published in Nairobi on Monday.
About half of those interviewed in the study by the East African Institute, said that they would have no problem evading taxes or taking a bribe as long as they do not end up in jail.
According to the Kenya Youth Survey Report, 47 per cent of those interviewed said they admired the people who have made money through “hook or crook” while another 35 per cent said they would readily give or take a bribe.
ADMIRE WEALTH
Interestingly, 30 per cent of the respondents said they believed that being corrupt was profitable. More men (20.6 per cent) said they admired people who acquire their money and wealth through questionable means compared to women (17.8 per cent).
“Our youth need to hear the truth about corruption, especially from the people and institutions they trust the most, such as family, faith leaders and educators. They need to be told that Kenya’s recent economic growth would’ve been greater if corruption were absent,” said Dr Alex Awiti, the director of the East African Institute.
During the survey which was conducted in October and November, last year, 1,853 respondents interviewed in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. The youngest respondent was 18 while the oldest was 35.
Presenting the report at the Serena Hotel, Dr Awiti said the data presented “important and surprising insight” and while it offered hope, it also raised deep concerns that call for urgent action.
SOCIAL VALUES
This study showed the wide disparities between social values such as integrity and how young people perceive and apply them in their day to day lives.
Activist John Githongo said that although the findings were “disturbing”, they were not surprising.
“If majority of our youth do not see corruption as something wrong, then we have a major failure of integrity,” he said.
“We are looking at situations where the rule of law in Kenya is eroding very quickly.”
ELECTION BRIBERY
And as the clock ticks towards the 2017 General Election, in which young people are expected to play a big role as voters or electoral workers, the report showed that four out of ten young people would vote for a political candidate if he paid them to do so.
However, 90 per cent of those interviewed still said they considered elections to be important. Another seven in ten said they believed that voting gave them the power to make a change in society.
Overall, 62 per cent said they were vulnerable to electoral fraud.
“This is worrying because bribery can influence election outcomes, mainly the wrong way,” Dr Awiti said.
