Corruption is But One Side of the Coin of Imperial Capitalism

The entire world is full of cries, grief and discomfort from both the rich and the poor, due to lack of confidence brought about by poor economic conditions. This is but as a result of the deceitful capitalist ruling ideology built on the creed of secularism, resulting in granting sovereignty to people to legislate laws to govern their daily lives contrary to what their Creator Allah has prescribed. Human beings granting themselves legislative authority is in itself corruption of the highest order. Allah (swt) said:

(إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلاَّ لِلّهِ)

“There is no legislation except that of Allah” [TMQ Surah Al-An’am: 57]

This sham imperialist ideology confined itself to the criterion of materialism, benefit or harm, and cultured man to perceive that the main objective for his existence is to strive to attain highest level of sensual gratification contrary to what Allah (swt) said:

(وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ)

“I did not create jinn and humans except that they worship Me” [Surah Adh-Dhariyat: 56].

Consequently under this ideology, corruption is expected to thrive in every sector of life from the economy, education, sports, ruling etc.

Recently in Kenya, we witnessed a number of corruption scandals as usual. Kenya participated in the 2016 Olympic Games hosted in the Brazilian capital of Rio de Janeiro which games concluded on Sunday, 21 August 2016. Kenya through senior officials of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) was involved in stealing athletes’ sports kits including sports attire sponsored by NIKE which was confirmed through seizure of the kits inside the NOCK offices after officials of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) unexpectedly invaded them. This led to arrest of some NOCK officials. Prior to that, there was another scandal on the use of muscle stimulating drugs by athletes which led to the IAAF (the body responsible for managing world athletics) demanding from Kenya to put legislation in place that will guarantee punishing its athletes involved in crime. In addition the Kenya team in the Rio Olympics were demoralized considering the fact that some of them were delayed in their travel, some travelled without their coaches, while some despite arriving early were unable to secure necessary documents to allow them access to places assigned to athletes. All this exposed the endemic negligence and high corruption manifested by NOCK!

Shockingly and more demoralizing is the fact that the chairman of the EACC institution, constitutionally mandated to fight corruption and which institution conducted the raid on NOCK offices, was forced due to corruption with strong evidence linking him to Ksh. 281 million irregularly given to his company Esaki Ltd on February 2014 after having won the tender for digging wells in Kapenguria area!

Previously the former cabinet secretary for devolution and planning, despite resigning from her post after giving into pressure from citizens showing lack of confidence to her due to being implicated to Ksh. 791 scandal that was granted through a fictitious tender, has now declared her interest in vying for governorship in Kirinyaga despite the fact that she has not received an official clearance from the EACC showing her innocence.

The Eurobond scandal to date remains untouched and whose perpetrators remain in office while others made to be sacrificial lambs for whistle blowing! At the same time, secondary school students torched many schools in collaboration with their parents and examination fraudsters so as to act as an excuse should the students fail in the forthcoming national exams – they didn’t have enough preparation time due to the incidents!

Report on the recent research carried out by the non-governmental organization AFRICOG between 31 May 2016 and 8 June 2016 confirmed that the office of the Deputy President of Kenya is leading in corruption by 51 percent followed by the office of the President of Kenya by 46.4 percent. The same research declared that corruption is at its highest level in the police service sector by 89 percent followed by county governments by 78 percent!

All these incidents and many more that we have not listed, clearly show that the capitalist ideology has failed and is the source of endemic and sustained corruption. The Islamic ideology should instead take its rightful place as a just system originating from the Creator. This is displayed by the administration of Prophet Muhammad (saaw) as a ruler of the Islamic state in Medina and the righteous Caliphs after him: Corruption was directly fought without fear or favour. For example when Umar bin Khattab (R.A.) was appointed as the second rightly guided Caliph after the death of Abu Bakr (R.A.) he declared: “I have heard news that people fear my harshness and steadfastness, saying: ‘Umar was harsh during Prophet’s (saaw) time, was harsh during Abu Bakr’s (R.A.) time… how will it be now that he has the reins of power?’ Verily!

Know that that harshness has indeed multiplied! But only to those who are oppressors, and those who go against Muslims. As for the religious and righteous, indeed I will be softer to them. I will leave no one to oppress others…. (If he dares to oppress someone) I will step on his cheek and press him down till he bows down to justice! And I will put down my cheek to those who have a right and are straight forward!” [Omar Ibnul Khataab. Author: Dr. Ali Muhammad Sallabi]

These famous words are completely contradicted under the capitalist ruling system where the top rulers collaborate with tycoons who put them to power to engage in corruption in different forms including oppressing the Ummah, stealing and misappropriating their resources fearing none! This global pandemic of corruption is witnessed in all countries whether of the East and West as exposed by the Panama Leaks. Corruption is never expected to be part of the Islamic ideology this is because the rulers and citizens under the Islamic state will be ruled by Islam emanating the Qur’an; and they will be directly accountable to the Court of Unjust Acts (Mahkamat Al-Madhalim), the Majlis al-Ummah (Council of the Ummah), political parties and the Ummah at large. Where corruption appears due to human weakness, it will be fought and punished without fear or favour.

Hizb ut Tahrir / Kenya with deep conviction and sincerity calls to the entire world in general and Africa in particular which has sunk in the abyss of corruption and poverty, to liberation from this evil corruption of capitalism. Instead of blaming a few corrupt individuals, the blame should be directed where it deserves most namely the ideology itself that bred the vice, and alternatively embrace the Islamic ideology via its Khilafah “Caliphate” State (Caliphate) on the way Prophethood that will protect the entire society and put an end to corruption. This was proved by history via its successful rule for more than thirteen centuries and how well it unified all citizens—Muslims and non-Muslims alike—together with the enviable prosperity witnessed. This is contrary to capitalism whose noxious rule has lasted less than three centuries yet its corruption has spread throughout the land and sea where the community is living in dilemma and adverse poverty.

Allah (swt) said:

(وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لاَ تُفْسِدُواْ فِي الأَرْضِ قَالُواْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ * أَلا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَـكِن لاَّ يَشْعُرُونَ)

“And when they are told do not cause corruption on the earth; they say we are but reformers. Nay verily they are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not.” [TMQ Surah Al-Baqarah:11-12]

Hizb ut-Tahrir Kenya