The massive corruption which Keith Richburg encountered while working as a correspondent for The Washington Post in Nairobi, Kenya was encapsulated by the following ubiquitous joke:
An African and an Asian meet at an Ivy League school as undergrads and become friends. Both return to their countries and eventually become finance ministers.
One day, the African man goes to visit the Asian man at his home. He is amazed to see his friend's mansion, three Mercedes, swimming pool and small staff. "How did you do this?" the African asks. "See that highway over there?" the Asian replies, pointing to a raised, gleaming new toll road in the distance. He smiles. "10 percent." The African takes the lesson to heart and returns home...
A few years later, the Asian man comes to visit his African friend -- and is dumbfounded by his palatial mansion, five swimming pools, fleet of Mercedes, yacht and army of servants. "How did you do this?" the Asian asks. "See that highway over there?" the African replies. His Asian friend looks in the distance and sees only fields, and cows grazing. "I don't see any road there."
The African smiles proudly: "100 percent."