Baringo County latest beneficiary of EACC’s capacity-building program for public officers
25:01:2024: Baringo County Governor, Mr Benjamin Cheboi has assured the EACC of his commitment to constitute the Corruption Prevention Committee to spearhead all the anti-corruption initiatives within Baringo County. He was speaking yesterday, Wednesday 24th January 2024 at a Corruption Prevention Workshop for his County Executive Committee members and Chief Officers. The two-day workshop was organized in conjunction with the EACC South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru. “This collaboration allows us to embrace best practices and attain the necessary standards in ethics and integrity. The insights of the Commission are also invaluable in helping us fortify our internal anti-corruption mechanisms. By learning from their experiences, we can detect any potential vulnerabilities within our systems and proactively prevent corruption,” Mr Cheboi said. The partnership, the Governor added, will serve as a cornerstone for the County in combating corruption and supporting their efforts to uphold high ethical standards. “By working hand in hand with EACC as a County, we are reinforcing our dedication to upholding the highest ethical standards and fostering an environment where corruption has no place to thrive”, he said. The County, Mr. Cheboi said, has endeavoured to sustain efforts to seal corruption loopholes including automation of revenue collection, and establishment of toll-free call centres to get timely citizen feedback on services rendered within the county. The workshop, which closes today, 25th January 2024, aims to strengthen the commitment to integrity, accountability, and good governance across all levels of the county. The focus is to enhance and create awareness of strategies to mitigate corruption risks. It covers critical areas such as the key principles of ethical conduct, transparent governance, and the role of county leadership in fostering a corruption-free environment.
When a registered proprietor’s root of title is under challenge, he must prove the legality of how he acquired the title – EACC Vs George Fred Onyango and 4 others.
Sealing the leakage in dams
24:01:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has launched a compliance risks monitoring exercise in the implementation of dam projects in the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation. The objective of the risk assessment is to entrench accountability, transparency, and integrity in the management of dam projects in the country with the view to detect and expose loopholes and guide appropriate reforms. The Commission, Commissioner Colonel (Rtd) Alfred Mshimba said while launching the programme on Tuesday, 23rd January 2024 in a ceremony attended by both the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Zacharia Njeru and the Principal Secretary Julius Korir, salutes the Ministry for the acceptance to incorporate corruption prevention interventions into their operations. “This is a significant show of commitment by the leadership of the water sector in combating and preventing graft. All of us need to work together to create a culture of integrity in the water sector and to ensure that everyone has access to clean and safe water,” said Commissioner Mshimba, who was accompanied by the Director of Preventive Services, Mr Vincent Okong’o and his Deputy, Ms Neema Nkorori. Mr. Njeru reiterated that his Ministry was cognizant of the importance of a strong and effective monitoring system as an integral part of ensuring transparency and accountability, adding that it also enables the people of Kenya to get value for their money. Corruption can have serious implications in projects, underscored the Director of Prevention Services while presenting the overall policy guidance. This, Mr Okong’o said, could lead to inflated costs, delays, poor quality infrastructure and low returns. There is therefore “a need to proactively identify and address factors that may facilitate corrupt practices in the various stages of a project life cycle,” he said. The assessment will focus on the project implementation framework, conceptualization, tendering of projects and contract execution. Succeeding phases will focus on other subsequent activities carried out at the projects. The methodology will include interviews; document analyses; compliance tests; and inspection of sampled dams. Reports on findings and recommendations, on the other hand, will be prepared after every phase and submitted to the Ministry and agencies for implementation. The first phase is expected to take approximately 31 days, after which a report will be prepared for a further 45 days and submitted to the Ministry for implementation. The initiative is a corruption prevention measure that will involve continuous corruption risk monitoring of the life cycle of dam projects from conceptualization, budget allocation, implementation, management and utilization.
Two public officers arrested for diversion of county revenue
24:01:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption has arrested two officials of the Nairobi City County for involvement in diversion of county revenue. Daniel Odidi Ganje, the officer in charge of data at St. Peter Cleavers Revenue offices in Starehe Sub-County, and John Gachagua Mburu, a student at a local university attached to the same office were apprehended on 18th January. They are accused of manipulating the Nairobi City County revenue portal to fraudulently reflect payments not made to the County. The two had asked a client who wanted to pay annual parking fees amounting to Kes 45,000 for his commercial vehicles to deposit the money into a private account belonging to a co-conspirator, John Gachagua. In exchange, he would be allowed to pay a lesser amount. To confirm to the client that it was possible to help him escape full payment if he agreed to the deal, the suspects entered the registration details of his vehicles into the revenue portal, which indicated that he had paid. The client, who later reported the matter, was able to verify full-year payment in the portal without having deposited any amount. Diversion of revenue is entrenched in several county governments, making the devolved units not meet their revenue targets. It is for this, among other factors, that some county governments are performing poorer than municipalities that existed before them. The county officials were released today pending completion of investigations. Mr. Ganje was released on a cash bail of Kes50, 000 and his younger accomplice, on compellence. They will report to the Commission for further directions on 6th February 2024.
Court asks EACC to investigate and act on claims of extortion against DCI officers and a city lawyer.
Public Officers are not eligible to participate in other gainful employment
Kenya wins bid to host Africa’s inaugural anti-corruption research centre
Kenya has been bestowed the responsibility to host Africa’s first Centre for Anti-Corruption Studies and Research (CEREC). The agency is to be established by the African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (AAACA), the continent’s network for regional cooperation in the fight against corruption and promotion of good governance. The competitive selection was made through a resolution of the General Assembly of AAACA during an Extraordinary virtual meeting held on Wednesday, 10th January 2024. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which represents Kenya in the Association, submitted its bid to AAACA on 6th October 2023, expressing interest in Kenya hosting the new regional body that will focus on advanced anti-corruption studies and research. Subsequently, the General Assembly convened Wednesday’s Extraordinary virtual meeting for deliberations and adoption of the host country. Egypt, having equally met the criteria to host, among them ratification of international and regional legal instruments against corruption, an operational national anti-corruption strategy anchored under constitutional provisions, anti-corruption offices spread across the country, experience in anti-corruption research and functional anti-corruption academy, had also expressed interest alongside Kenya. Following a vigorous selection process, Kenya came first, scoring 210 points against Egypt’s 191 points, resulting in her approval and designation to host the agency. The establishment and operationalization of the Centre avails Kenya a good opportunity, especially in strengthening collaborations and strategies. Welcoming the decision of the AAACA General Assembly, EACC’s CEO Twalib Mbarak appreciated the trust bestowed upon Kenya by its regional peers to take up the responsibility of hosting the new agency. The Centre, Mbarak said, will play an important role in facilitating the development and harmonization of strategies for the prevention, detection, investigation and control of corruption and related offenses in Africa. The resolution of the General Assembly acknowledges Kenya’s commitment to international and regional legal instruments against corruption, including the establishment of key anti-corruption structures. Kenya has also recorded significant milestones in law enforcement, prevention and recovery of corruptly acquired assets. AAACA is established in accordance with the African Union Convention to promote the effective implementation of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, to which Kenya is a signatory.
EACC Trains National Research Fund on Anti-Corruption Strategies
06.04.2023: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has in the furtherance of its corruption prevention mandate continued to build the capacity of government agencies to establish and implement effective anti-corruption measures. The latest agency to benefit from the anti-corruption capacity building is the National Research Fund (NRF), whose Corruption Prevention Committee, composed of senior officers, has been taken through specialized training the Commission. The program, held in Nakuru from 3rd to 6th April 2023, was aimed at enhancing the capacity of the agency to prevent the occurrence of corruption and unethical conduct in its operations. The program was officially opened by the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer Professor Dickson Andala and EACC Senior Education Officer Fredrick Mainda. In his opening remarks, Prof Andala observed that the anti-corruption training will bolster the Fund’s commitment to deliver impactful services to the public in line with its core mandate. Terming the Fund’s operations as highly prone to corruption, Prof Andala thanked the Commission for facilitating the program which he noted would go a long way in ensuring that all resources under the management of the Fund are prudently utilized. “The Fund will implement a host of preventive measures that were highlighted by EACC to seal any loopholes conducive to corruption and unethical conduct,” he added. On his part, Mr Mainda said that EACC continues to mainstream corruption prevention in public institutions as a strategy for ensuring efficient, transparent and accountable public service delivery. “This training seeks to instill good corporate governance practices in NRF to effectively and efficiently carry out their statutory mandate of mobilizing and disbursing resources for research,” Mr Mainda said. He urged public and private sector agencies to engage EACC for technical support and advisories on strengthening their accountability systems. The National Research Fund is a state agency under the Ministry of Education established pursuant to section 32 of the Science Technology and Innovation (ST&I) Act of 2013. Its mandate is to facilitate research for the advancement of science, technology and innovation. The program was facilitated by EACC officers Fredrick Mainda and Nephat Mbau.
EACC’s Integrity Academy Trains Senior Public Officials in Nakuru
31.03.2023: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), through its training wing, the National Integrity Academy (NIAca), has implemented a one-week anti-corruption skills development program for over 50 Integrity Assurance Officers (IAOs) drawn from over 12 institutions. The program, held at Egerton University in Nakuru County from 27th to 31st March 2023, was aimed at equipping the participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to spearhead anti-corruption initiatives in their respective institutions. The program, held at Egerton University, was officially opened by Head of the National Integrity Academy Dr. Josephine Monyi who challenged the officers to lead by example in upholding the same values that they are expected to mainstream in their respective institutions. Institutions represented included the Office of the Controller of Budget, National Center of International Arbitration, Engineers Board of Kenya, Water Resources Authority, The National Industrial Training Authority, Kenya Reinsurance, Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examinations Board and National Irrigation Board among others. Eric Obiero, a senior manager from the Engineers Board of Kenya, a beneficiary of the training said, “I believe that this training will empower most institutions to effectively deal with potential corruption before it takes place. Integrity Assurance Officers are designated as such upon specialized training and certification by EACC, through the National Integrity Academy. The role of the officers is to spearhead implementation of corruption prevention strategies in their institutions. Training is one of the strategies for preventing corruption before it occurs. Other prevention strategies include system audits to seal corruption loopholes, establishment of integrity clubs in learning institutions and partnerships with key stakeholders such as religious organizations.
Implement Audit Committee Reports, EACC tells Governors
29.03.2023: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has urged Governors who have established Audit Committees on corruption and governance issues to implement the resultant reform recommendations. This, EACC said, would significantly mitigate the challenge of corruption in counties. Speaking at an anti-corruption workshop in Nakuru on 29th March, 2023, the Commission, through its Head of Corporate Affairs Eric Ngumbi said that establishment of such audit committees by Governors cannot yield their desired objectives unless the ensuing reform recommendations are implemented. Ngumbi said that Governors, as the Chief Executive Officers of the counties, have the primary responsibility to protect the public resources entrusted under their care and control. “EACC appreciates the Governors who have established Audit Committees following the Advisory issued by EACC and identified various gaps that require reform action. Upon receipt of Reports from the Audit Committees, Governors should take the recommend reform action and refer to EACC any matters that require its intervention,” Ngumbi said. The EACC official was speaking at Egerton University where the Commission was conducting a one week anti-corruption workshop for over 50 Integrity Assurance Officers drawn from 12 public institutions. The program ran from 27th to 31stMarch, 2023. Some of the institutions that benefited from the training include Office of the Controller of Budget, National Center of International Arbitration, Engineers Board of Kenya, Water Resources Authority, Kenya Reinsurance, Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation, and National irrigation Board.