LDP Presidential Aspirant Fred Ogola has called for a complete overhaul of Kenya’s governance systems, arguing that corruption stems from flawed structures rather than individuals.
He proposes digital financial tracking and a “lean and clean government,” warning that reactive approaches cannot solve entrenched corruption or restore public trust in leadership and accountability.
Speaking on Monday during a Radio Generation interview, he dismissed reactionary politics, insisting that long-term solutions lie in proactive reforms.
“My ideology is not reactionary, my ideology is very proactive,” he said, outlining what he termed the “evolve doctrine.”
At the centre of his proposal is the idea of a “lean and clean government,” which he argues is essential to restoring accountability and efficiency.
“You cannot have such a broad-based government and you think that things will work, is this government clean?” he posed, referring to the current broad-based coalition government led by President William Ruto.
Ogola likened the current system to a contaminated vessel, arguing that successive administrations have failed to reset governance structures.
“When you want to put water, you have to wash the pot, this government has never been doing since independence,” he said.
He added that current leadership operates within inherited systems that remain fundamentally flawed.
“We are just taking some water and adding into another water, because the president is made through a system,” he said.
Rather than focusing on personalities, he said reforms should prioritise modernising institutions.
A key part of his proposal is the introduction of digital financial systems to enhance transparency and traceability.
“This procurement system will be put on ledgers, digital ledgers, which are transparent, ” he said.
He argued that such systems would make it easier to track public funds and hold individuals accountable. “You can see who owns what,” he added.
Ogola also criticised what he described as a culture that tolerates large cash transactions without scrutiny.
“In Kenya, you hear some people are having weighing machines to weigh notes and we don’t see something wrong with it,” he said.
He contrasted this with experiences abroad, noting that societies often question the legitimacy of holding large amounts of cash.
“The society frowns upon anybody who is holding large sums of money in cash,” he said.
As part of his reform agenda, Ogola announced plans to launch a digital financial instrument known as the “Kenyan token.”
“The Kenyan token will be a digital ways on how money can move,” he said, describing it as a system where “one Kenyan token is one dollar in the bank.”
He said the initiative would enable investments in key sectors such as supply chains and energy, while allowing full visibility of transactions. “You can see the ledger and how it is moving,” he added.
Ogola dismissed current anti-corruption efforts as superficial, arguing that they fail to address the root causes of the problem. “These are reactions and just side shows,” he said.
He further claimed that internal disputes among corrupt actors often drive exposure of scandals.
“When thieves go to steal and they disagree on the loot, they start reporting each other,” he said referring to the current Sh4 billion petroleum scandal that has engulfed the Energy ministry.
Ogola also questioned the government’s narrative on cartels, challenging officials to publicly identify those responsible.
The LDP Presidential aspirant argued that transparency would require naming and prosecuting individuals rather than using generalised terms.
“If I was President, I will name the list of cartels and publish them in public,” he said.
While distancing himself from both government and opposition figures, he positioned himself as an independent voice advocating for systemic change.
“I’m not on this side, I’m in the side of Kenyans,” he said, sidelining with Kenyans to help them alleviate themselves from economic slavery.
He emphasised that his proposals are rooted in ideology rather than political expediency. “We do not need these reactions. We need a proactive system that will work,” he said.
Ogola also defended his leadership credentials, pointing to his professional background and appointment within a university institution.
“To be a Deputy Vice Chancellor is not a mean feat,” he said, noting the rigorous vetting process involved.
He added that his selection as a Presidential aspirant by his party reflects confidence in his ideas and leadership.
“They have looked at my ideology and they have bought it, they know this is what can save Kenya,” he said.
As Kenya continues to grapple with corruption scandals and governance challenges, Ogola’s remarks add to a growing debate over whether meaningful reform lies in changing leaders or fundamentally transforming the systems that produce them.