Law Commons^™

Toa Kitu Kidogo: Corruption In East Africa , Erika Franz

In the Balance

Toa kitu kidogo‖ or ―give a little something‖ is often heard in East Africa, where bribes are commonplace. From a traffic stop to picking up a package at the customs window in the post office, individuals can expect to add on a few shillings or francs for the ―cost of doing business.‖ But corruption has far darker consequences; it erodes the social fabric of a society, stifling its opportunities for growth, dissolving faith in the government, and preventing substantive rule of law and good governance. Corruption, defined broadly, conveys a lack of accountability for government decisions, consequences for illegal actions, …