Kuwaitis Fight to Be Corruption Free

Fighting corruption in the Kuwaiti government has been a recurring theme in the youth protests and the candidates’ speeches as election day approaches. Fifth Fence, one of the first activist groups to come together in Kuwait’s “Arab Spring,” is working in coordination with several other youth organizations such as  Kafi, Youth for Change, and September 16 Youths to push reform and eliminate corruption. “We are actively taking part in the election campaign helping around 30 candidates who accept our ideas for comprehensive democratic reform,” said Abdullah al-Shallahi, a member of Fifth Fence. Activist groups have also used multiple social media platforms to spread their message and engage the Kuwaiti public to help push for positive political and economic reform.

Political candidates  have also used this platform of a corruption-free Kuwait in their speeches. “Kuwait has been admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and needs a panel of the most skilled , devoted doctors to cure and help regain health,” said the third constituency candidate Nabila Al-Anjeri. Al-Anjeri criticized what she described as Kuwait’s deteriorating political performance that has restricted freedoms and lowered the country’s reputation in the international community.

Massouma al-Mubarak, Kuwait’s first female cabinet minister, has also been outspoken about the government corruption. Although she has faced her own share of allegations, she has promised to fight against government corruption, asking “where do the billions go?” to the audience of men and women who met her with applause. She is not the only official defending her position in the government. “We want a country that’s run by constitutional law, that doesn’t run by dirty money and bribes,” said Abdul Rahman al-Anjari, another incumbent defending his seat. “This culture must stop.”