By OCCRP
An unprecedented number of people — more than 40,000 — wrote in to nominate Kenyan President William Ruto for “Person of the Year” in organized crime and corruption.
Fueled by the passage of a contentious finance bill, youth unemployment, and rage at their corrupt government, young Kenyans held demonstrations for weeks this past June and July, demanding that Ruto step down. Security forces responded with tear gas, water cannons, arrests, and bullets — many people were killed, injured, or went missing following the protests.
Ruto’s government has been accused of greed and corruption, resulting in failures in economic policy, health, education, as well as overall instability and the abduction of political opponents.
The comments submitted with the nominations were full of frustration and despair.
“He’s stealing everything, including public funds, people are suffering without a proper healthcare system, and people are becoming poorer day by day,” one commenter wrote.
“He has failed Kenya in every sector,” wrote another. Many Kenyans (and others) also nominated Gautam Adani, the Indian oligarch who has funded and benefited from the patronage of the Modi government in India. Adani was behind an airport deal in Kenya that was widely seen as corrupt before it was cancelled.
This extraordinary outpouring from Kenyans who continue to press for a better government was remarkable. The judges acknowledge the importance of public interest and outrage at corruption.
However, since the award is given to the person who has done “the most to wreak havoc around the world through organized crime and corruption,” they ultimately chose Assad as the winner.
Creating chaos for Syrians, Syria’s neighbours, the broader region, and the many countries affected by his criminality pushed him into the top slot.
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