Individuals in Kenyan government stealing a third of national funds. Africa is poor because of corrupt leaders NOT 'climate'

Tweet 12/3/10, "Kenyan corruption costs government dearly," BBC

"The Kenyan government has said it could be losing nearly one-third of the national budget to corruption.

• Finance ministry officials told a parliamentary committee the losses could be nearly $4bn (£2.5bn) a year.

They said individuals were taking huge sums meant for development projects.

• Analysts say many Kenyans will be surprised not by the news of the losses, but by the fact the
  

admission has come from such senior officials.

• Kitu kidogo - the Swahili for "something small" - is how the kickbacks are commonly described in Kenya.

Taking 10% of an awarded tender or inflating project costs are said to be the commonest means of dipping into government coffers.

• Corruption has been the Achilles heel of successive Kenyan regimes.

But the efforts of the country's newly-appointed anti-corruption commissioner - who now has the power to prosecute individuals -

• are causing ripples in government quarters."

Reference: 11/9/10, BBC, "French appeals reopens African assets case"

• 3 African leaders accused of stealing $223 million from their goverments

"France's highest appeals court has authorised judges to proceed with an investigation into assets held in the country by three African leaders.

• The anti-corruption group Transparency International has accused the three of using African public funds to buy luxury homes and cars in France....

The three leaders, one of whom is now dead, had denied wrongdoing.

• They are Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of the Congo and
  

• Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, as well as
  

• the late Gabonese leader, Omar Bongo (whose living relatives are also named).
  

Transparency estimates the total value of the three leaders' estates in France at 160m euros (£140m, $223m)."...

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