Kenya’s most famous anti-corruption campaigner, John Githongo, has resumed his war on graft, after death threats forced him to flee his country in 2006.

The Kenyan government estimates that one-third of its revenue is lost in scams such as the theft of emergency food aid and funds for primary education and inflated contracts for shoddy or non-existent projects.

There was a surge of optimism in 2003 when President Mwai Kibaki appointed Githongo – head of Transparency International-Kenya – as his anti-corruption czar. Two years later, Githongo went into exile in the UK after receiving death threats.

He had unveiled a $600 million scandal in which contracts were awarded to a fictitious company, known as Anglo-Leasing. His evidence included hidden tape recordings of his meetings with top government ministers who he alleged were behind the swindle.

His story was published in Michaela Wrong’s book It’s Our Turn to Eat: The Story of a Kenyan Whistleblower in 2009. “It’s our turn to eat” is the phrase used by Kenyan ethnic communities to say it is their turn to rule and steal from public coffers.

Githongo spoke to TrustLaw about his new approach.

Interview by Katy Migiro
Produced by Natasha Elkington
Music by Daniel Rostrup
© 2011 Trust.org / AlertNet