Former Roots Party presidential running mate Justina Wamae has described corruption and theft of public funds in Kenya as both a mental and psychological issue that continues to undermine governance and development.

In a statement posted on her X account on August 26, 2025, Wamae presented a provocative analysis of Kenya’s corruption problem, arguing that the issue goes beyond legal frameworks to fundamental human psychology.

“Corruption and theft of public funds are both a mental and a psychological issue,” Wamae stated.

Ineffective mechanisms

Wamae challenged those who might disagree with her assessment to explain why existing anti-corruption mechanisms have proven ineffective despite being in place.

“If you disagree, explain why all those laws in place are not operationalised? Why are independent institutions not independent?” she asked.

She attributed these failures to inherent human characteristics that influence behaviour in positions of power.

“It is because of the inherent human nature of self-interest and self-preservation,” she explained.

Corruption severity

Wamae highlighted that Kenya faces particularly severe corruption issues, using strong language to emphasize the extent of the problem.

“But for Kenyans, it has become excessive; there is no one as clean as cotton in Kenya!” she declared, suggesting that corruption has become pervasive across society.

Wamae further urged leaders and citizens to think beyond mere rhetoric and superficial reforms, calling for alternative strategies to combat graft.

“The question is what alternatives are there to curb these vices beyond the usual rhetoric?” she asked.

Scrapping off SHA and NHIF

This follows her earlier statement advocating for the scrapping of the Social Health Authority after recent reports of ghost hospitals receiving money.

Taking to her X account on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, Wamae argued that the SHA was created in response to the embezzlement of funds in the NHIF, only for the same public funds to continue disappearing in the current health authority.

She decried that existing loopholes in the national health fund have been exploited by individuals with access to its resources.

“SHA was necessitated by the loss of funds in NHIF. Now, money is lost again. How about we do away with this Fund at once; we avoid leading duty bearers to the temptation of putting their fingers in the cookie jar. When there’s no cookie, nobody will be greedy.” Wamae said.