The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) have renewed calls for stronger accountability, ethical leadership and active citizen participation as Kenya intensifies efforts to curb corruption.
Speaking during the commemoration of African Anti-Corruption Day at Integrity Centre in Nairobi on Monday, leaders from the two institutions said the country must focus on preventing corruption before it occurs while strengthening institutions that promote transparency and good governance.
The event brought together representatives from government agencies, the legal profession, civil society, development partners and professional organisations to discuss practical measures for promoting integrity and protecting public resources.
EACC shifts focus to preventing corruption
EACC Chairperson David Oginde said the commission is increasingly prioritising corruption prevention, arguing that addressing weaknesses within institutions is more effective than relying solely on investigations and prosecutions.
According to Oginde, promoting integrity across public institutions will significantly reduce opportunities for corruption while strengthening public confidence in government.
He explained that the commission has adopted a governance-based strategy that combines corruption prevention, public education, investigations, asset recovery and institutional reforms.
“Promoting integrity is an important aspiration that we must commit ourselves to because it helps to build our institutions so that corruption is reduced, if not eliminated. The fight against corruption must also reduce the number of opportunities for corruption,” Oginde said.
The commission has also expanded corruption risk assessments, systems reviews, integrity testing and public awareness campaigns as part of its long-term anti-graft strategy.
Citizens, media and religious institutions urged to play a bigger role
Oginde said fighting corruption requires collective responsibility, praising the media for exposing corruption cases and encouraging citizens to continue reporting unethical practices.
He described public participation as one of the strongest tools for enhancing accountability and ensuring public institutions remain transparent.
The EACC chairperson also challenged religious organisations to take a firmer stand against corruption by discouraging the acceptance of donations suspected to have been acquired through illicit means.
Drawing comparisons with competitive sports, Oginde said Africa should strive to make integrity its greatest achievement.
“If we were all training towards integrity, with the discipline that elite athletes devote to soccer, Africa’s greatest victory would not be about lifting the World Cup trophy but building a continent where integrity is our identity and corruption is defeated,” he said.
LSK proposes annual rule of law report
LSK President Charles Kanjama called for the establishment of an independent annual Rule of Law Report to evaluate Kenya’s governance, accountability and anti-corruption efforts.
According to Kanjama, such a report would help identify systemic weaknesses and provide measurable benchmarks for improving governance.
He observed that while corruption is widely condemned publicly, individuals often fail to uphold constitutional values when confronted with personal ethical decisions.
“The crisis we face as a country is that whenever we come together, we collectively deplore corruption. When we are faced with individual cases, many of us don’t rise to the standards expected by the Constitution. We must pursue individual accountability in the fight against corruption,” Kanjama said.
He added that combating corruption requires collaboration across all sectors of society, including moral and spiritual leadership.
Partnerships key to winning the anti-graft battle
EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said this year’s African Union theme, Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa, highlights the importance of partnerships between governments, the private sector, civil society, development partners, professional bodies, the media and ordinary citizens.
Mohamud warned that corruption continues to slow economic growth, weaken public institutions and deny citizens access to essential services.
“Corruption is not simply a legal issue but a development issue. It steals opportunities from young people, weakens institutions and undermines public trust,” he said.
He added that Kenya continues to play a leading role in regional anti-corruption initiatives through the East African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (EAAACA).
Leaders call for ethical leadership
National Construction Authority Executive Director Maurice Aketch urged public institutions to strengthen professionalism and ethical leadership to improve service delivery.
Meanwhile, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) representative Kodjo Atisso reaffirmed the organisation’s support for Kenya’s justice sector through initiatives aimed at strengthening financial investigations, asset recovery and access to justice.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli also pledged the National Police Service’s continued collaboration with EACC in supporting integrity and enforcing anti-corruption laws.
The leaders agreed that sustained cooperation between public institutions, professional bodies, civil society and citizens remains essential in building a transparent, accountable and corruption-free Kenya.
