The Nairobi City Council and Ministry of Local Government cemetery land purchase scandal brings to focus once again, questions about the national commitment to the fight against corruption.

It raises worrying issues on apparent politicisation of the anti-corruption campaign -- as manifested in indications that rival groupings in the Grand Coalition government are keen to point fingers at each other, but very hesitant when those on the side are taken to task.

Another worrying trend emerging is that even as the public seems united in the anger against corruption, that same public will so easily unite in defence of a member of their community or a member of their political party seen to be stealing from the public coffers.

The national scourge will never be fought successfully if the campaign is reduced to political and ethnic squabbles.

The fight against corruption must be fought on a higher morality that transcends political party interests, ethnic loyalties, personal friendships or any other diversionary considerations.

The latest series of scandals to hit the coalition government are not about PNU or ODM or about the ethnic groups of the respective ministers and government officials implicated.

Until we move away from that retrograde mind-set, we will never win this war.