NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya does not need more stadiums as much as it needs more prisons to lock up those plundering the economy, according to Anglican Bishop David Kodia.
Speaking on JKL Live on Citizen TV, Rev Kodia said the country’s biggest challenge was not lack of resources, but the failure to hold accountable individuals who are widely known to be looting public funds.
“We may not need many stadiums in Kenya, but we may need more prisons to lock in those who are plundering our economy. They are known,” Rev. Kodia said. “If the investigative arm of government was functioning, we should be seeing them on the dock every other day.”
Instead, he argued, corruption has eaten into every pillar meant to safeguard public interest, including the judiciary and investigative agencies.
“You go to the judiciary, there is no justice there. Justice is on sale,” he said, adding that law enforcement selectively targets individuals who have fallen out of favour with the system while shielding the powerful.
He warned that Kenya risks permanently losing the fight against corruption if institutions remain compromised, noting that corruption is not passive. “Corruption fights back,” he said.
Rev. David Kodia: We may not need many stadia in Kenya but more prisons to lock-in those who are plundering our economy. They are known and if the investigative arm of the government is working then we should be seeing them on the dock. What we are seeing is justice on sale and
He challenged public servants, political leaders and professionals to engage in personal reflection and take responsibility for their roles in governance failures.
“The question should be: where I have been put as an accountant, a minister or a director, what value am I adding?” he said. “Unless we go personal and interrogate ourselves, we are not going to win this war.”
Despite the grim assessment, the cleric said Kenya remains a wealthy nation with immense potential, insisting that poor leadership — not lack of capacity — has held the country back.
“Kenya can reach the level of Singapore,” he said. “We have enormous resources. We have some of the most educated people in Africa and universities producing graduates every year.”
However, he questioned why education appears to have lost its value for many young people, arguing that leaders have failed to prioritise job creation and national development.
“No one is talking about employment. We are only talking about self-preservation — how do we remain in power, how do we protect our jobs?” he said, warning that graduates are being abandoned to uncertainty while politics revolves around survival rather than service.
Rev. Kodia’s remarks add to his growing reputation as one of the country’s most outspoken religious leaders.
His bold stance at Raila’s state funeral in October 2025 earned him a standing ovation after he criticised Kenya’s handout culture and contrasted modern politicians with the late Raila Odinga, whom he praised for leading through conviction rather than wealth or patronage.
