EACC goes for young souls in the ethics quest
19:06:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commissionâs Western Regional Office, Kisumu has undertaken an ethics and integrity sensitization in selected primary and secondary schools in Kisumu County Through the Department of Education and Public Awareness, the Commission aimed at enlightening learners on the dangers of corruption; their role in combating corruption; character formation and how to tackle ethical dilemmas within their day-to-day engagements. The learners were also enlightened on the importance of upholding integrity. They were encouraged to start Integrity Clubs with the primary role of shaping future leaders as integrity champions. EACC is seized of, as part of its mandate, the responsibility to combat and prevent corruption, economic crime and unethical conduct in Kenya through public education, promotion of standards and practices of integrity, ethics and anti-corruption. The Commissionâs Education Officers reached out to Nyabondo High School, Kisumu Boys High School, Koru Girls High School, Onjiko Boys High School, and Sinyolo Girls High School. They also visited Nyandero Primary School, Urudi Primary School, Lakeview Primary School, Dr. Robert Ouko Primary School, Kassagam Primary School, Reru AIC Primary School, Atoya Primary School, Maseno Mixed Primary School.
EACC arrests High Court advocate and a Court Clerk for soliciting in the name of a judge
15:06:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Clifford Odhiambo, a Kisumu-based Advocate of the High Court, and Zakayo Otieno Wambogo, a Court Assistant assigned to Hon. Lady Justice Roselyne Aburili, a Presiding Judge of Kisumu High Court. The two were arrested yesterday (Friday) afternoon in relation to a complaint made to EACC by Justice Aburili to the effect that they had demanded and received Kes500, 000 from a litigant in the pretext that they were acting on her behalf. In soliciting for the bribe, the two suspects purported that the Presiding Justice of the Kisumu High Court had demanded for it as an inducement to deliver a favourable judgement in a case before her. The said case was determined on May 17th, 2024. Lady Justice Aburili, who has since recorded a statement with EACC stated that she received information that the advocate had handed over Kes500, 000 to her Court Assistant for onward transmission to her without her knowledge. Consequently, she grilled the implicated advocate and Court Assistant in open Court. The two confessed to having received the said money in her name and divided it between themselves. The two suspects were, after arrest, placed in custody at Kisumu Railways/Port Police Station pending further action. Preliminary investigations revealed that the money was given to Advocate Gwada by Peter Warindu and Company Advocates for whom he was holding brief in the case. Mr Gwada told the law firm that the Judge had demanded the money in order to issue judgement in favour of a claimant in an insurance claim. Notably, this is the second time Justice Aburili has reported a similar case to EACC. When she served in Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, Justice Aburili reported staff working in her chambers to EACC after they solicited a bribe in her name. She later testified against them in Court leading to their conviction for giving and receiving a bribe. EACC, noting the increasing cases of imposters and fraudsters extorting money in the names of senior public officials in the justice system, urges Kenyans to remain vigilant and not fall prey to such fraudulent schemes. All suspected fraudsters should be reported to EACC through Toll Free Line 1551 or other relevant law enforcement agencies for action.
FBI to strengthen partnership with EACC
11:06:2024: United Statesâ principal federal law enforcement agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has committed to enhance collaboration with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and support the Commissionâs efforts to execute its mandate. The FBI, its Director, Mr. Christopher Wray said, will continue to look for ways to strengthen the partnership and support EACC. Mr Wray, who is on a technical and operational working visit to Kenya, was speaking today at the Commissionâs Headquarters at Integrity Centre in Nairobi where he paid a courtesy call on EACC. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation from FBI and the American Embassy in Nairobi. âI had a productive meeting with EACC CEO Mbarak and his team at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission about their important work combating corruption and promoting accountability. The FBI will continue to look for ways to strengthen our partnership and support EACC efforts to safeguard the rule of law and ensure public confidence in institutions,â the FBI Director said. EACC has a long standing history of cooperation with FBI which has seen the Commissionâs investigators benefit from various specialized trainings on undercover operations, trade craft and modern techniques in investigation of complex economic crimes, corruption cases and recovery of corruptly acquired and unexplained wealth. The meeting explored various collaboration initiatives for effective modern law enforcement, including countering transnational corruption and economic crimes. The FBI resolved to enhance its support to EACC through training and acquisition of modern investigative tools and equipment. The meeting also explored ways of leveraging on exchange of information to support tracing and recovery of corruptly acquired assets stashed abroad. The Commissionâs CEO, Mr. Twalib Mbarak thanked the office of the FBI in Nairobi for organizing the FBI Directorâs first visit to EACC since its inception in 1989. He appreciated the technical support that FBI continues to extend to EACC, which has enhanced the Commissionâs investigations. âToday marks a major milestone as we seek to deepen our partnership and explore areas of cooperation. With technical support from the FBI, the Commission will have a greater impact in investigating high impact cases and robustly pursue recovery of corruptly acquired assets and unexplained wealth,â said Mr. Mbarak.
EACCâs trains Bomet County Corruption Prevention Committee
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) South Rift Regional Office has conducted a two-day sensitization workshop for Bomet County’s Corruption Prevention Committee (CPC). Focusing on, among others, strategies for corruption prevention; understanding the legal framework in the fight against corruption; positive organization culture that promote integrity; and the roles of a CPC in mainstreaming ethics and integrity, the workshop aimed at enhancing the Committeeâs capacity to prevent and combat corruption within Bomet County. The two-day workshop ending today in Kericho town underscores the importance of a collaborative approach, involving both public officials and the community, to effectively address and reduce corruption. Corruption Prevention Committee is established to spearhead anti-corruption and integrity initiatives in an entity. The Accounting Officer of the public entity formally appoints members to the CPC, and EACC provides training to the CPC to ensure that it can discharge its responsibilities. CPCs are responsible for the development, implementation, review and monitoring of corruption prevention framework including corruption prevention policy, whistle-blowing protection mechanism, gifts and conflict of interest registers, codes of conduct and ethics and reporting mechanisms; Preparation of annual corruption prevention plan; Coordination of bribery and corruption risk assessment and management; Handling of complaints on alleged corruption and unethical conduct; and Coordination of preparation and submission of quarterly reports to the Commission. They also identify and recommend training needs on ethics, integrity and anticorruption; Collaborate and cooperate with anti-corruption stakeholders; Supervise activities of the Integrity Assurance Officers; and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of anti-corruption initiatives. CPCs are composed of a chairperson, who is ordinarily the accounting officer of the entity; members, who are heads of departments or directorates; and a secretary. The Bomet County Governor, Dr Hillary Barchok expressed his appreciation for the EACC’s efforts in combating corruption and highlighted the significance of the workshop in strengthening hs county’s integrity frameworks. He urged his County Executive Committee members to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability in their duties. Maintaining ethical conduct, the Governor said, is crucial for fostering public trust and ensuring effective governance in Bomet County EACCâs Regional Manager for South Rift, Mr Godfrey Oyugi lauded the County Government of Bomet for organizing the training of the top echelons of the county. He stressed on the importance of such capacity building workshops and asked the Governor to cascade it to the lower cadre staff within the county.
Former NITA Director General finally takes plea in corruption charges
6:6:2024: Paul Kipsang Kosgei, the former Director General of National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) has finally taken plea today in the procurement related fraud charges before Hon. Zipporah Gichana of the Anti-Corruption Court in Milimani. Mr. Kosgei is the first accused in a case in which the current Director General of NITA, Stephen Ogenga, two directors of a private limited company, and the company itself are charged with various counts of abuse of office, and fraudulent acquisition of public property. His co-accused were arrested over the last weekend of May and were arraigned on Monday 3rd before Hon. Gichana where they pleaded not guilty. He had failed to appear in court alongside his co-accused on account of bad health coupled with short notice to appear. Hon. Gichana postponed his plea taking to today and instructed his counsel, who was in court to ensure that the accused appears in person to plead to the charges. The former Nita Director General is charged with abuse of office. The Court was told that between Jan 31st and March 29th 2019 he, as Director General of NITA, improperly conferred a benefit of Kes5,388,410 to Xponix Ltd by authorizing payments to the said company in respect to tender No. NITA/12/2017-2018 for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, servicing, maintenance and repair of sewing and training machines. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was given similar bond terms to those earlier given to his co-accused of Kes3 million bond with a surety of similar amount or Kes1 million cash bail. He paid the cash bail and will appear for first mention together with his co-accused on June 19.
Dr Oginde to lead KLIF as Attorney Generalâs co-chair
05:06:2024: The Kenya Leadership Integrity Forum (KLIF) today elected Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairperson, Dr. David Oginde as its alternate Chairperson. Dr. Oginde was elected unanimously during KLIFâs National Coordinating Committee meeting at a hotel in Nairobi. Ms. Sheila Masinde, the Executive Director of Transparency International (K) was also elected Vice Chair. EACCâs Secretary/CEO Mr. Twalib Mbarak is the Secretary to the Forum and coordinates the agenda of stakeholder engagement in the fight against corruption. EACC also provides the Secretariat which is headed by Ms Petronilla Kyengo The Attorney General is the designated chairperson of KLIF and the election of an alternate chair was so that he or she can provide leadership whenever the Attorney General, whose office is heavily laden with national duties, is unavailable. Dr. Oginde, while accepting his new lead role in KLIF called on those present to lead by example. âWe want to appeal to all of us, good citizens who are seated in this room, let us be champions of that which is right,â he said. KLIFâs National Coordinating Committee also adopted a five-year strategic plan, Kenya Integrity Plan (KIP) 2023-2028. The plan is characterized into four strategic objectives including to enhance the capacity of KLIF to implement a collective approach in the fight against corruption; promote strengthening of policy, legal and institutional framework in the fight against corruption; promote Ethics and integrity in public and private sector, and; to promote ethics and integrity in the society. With H.E the President as patron, KLIF is a multi-sector forum bringing together stakeholders for a unified and integrated fight against corruption. The Forum is comprised of 20 sectors including the Executive, Anti-Corruption Agencies, the Civil Society, Faith Sector, the Private Sector, the Media and other State and non-state actors.
EACC arraigns NITA Director General in procurement related fraud
03:06:2024: Stephen Ogenga, the Director General of National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), together with two directors of Xponics Ltd have today pleaded not guilty to various procurement fraud related charges before Hon. Zipporah Gichana of the Anti-Corruption Court in Milimani. Mr. Ogenga, James Waweru, and Shiela Wambui Nyakinyua were arrested on Saturday after the Director of Public Prosecutions concurred with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commissionâs recommendation to charge. This was after investigations by the Commission linked the three, together with the former Director General of Nita, Paul Kipsang Kosgei to the loss of Kes28.4 million in a procurement fraud at the industrial training authority. Listed as the second accused, Mr. Ogenga was charged with abuse of office. The Court heard that between 31st January 2019 and 30th June 2021, Mr. Ogenga used his office as Director General of NITA to improperly confer a benefit of Kes4.8 million to Xponics Ltd by authorizing payments in respect to Tender No. NITA/12/2017-2018 for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, servicing, maintenance and repair of sewing and training machines. James Waweru and Sheila Wambui Nyakinyua were charged with fraudulent acquisition of public property. Between 15th April 2009 and 30th June 2021, the Court was told, the two directors of Xponics Ltd fraudulently acquired Kes10.2 million by presenting a falsified bid to ensure an unfair advantage in respect to the afore-mentioned tender. They denied the charges and the Court released them on a cash bail of Kes1 million or a bond of Kes3 million with a surety of the same amount. They were ordered to deposit their travel documents with Court and were also restrained from interfering with prosecution witnesses. Their case will be mentioned on 19th June, 2024. Paul Kipsang Kosgei, former Director General of NITA and also the first accused in the case was not in court to take plea. His counsel told Court that even though his client had received summons to surrender today at EACCâs Integrity Centre, it was long after he had confirmed a crucial doctor appointment. Court scheduled his plea taking on 5th June, 2024.
EACC pursues government land worth Kes5.2 billion grabbed in Nyeri, Nyahururu and Nanyuki
31:06:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is pursuing recovery of Government land and houses cumulatively worth more than Kes5 billion currently in the hands of grabbers. The properties include official residential premises for Central Regional Commissioner and other top National Government officials in Nyeri County, Police Stations in Laikipa County, and Njambini Agricultural Training Centre in Nyandarua County. Speaking in Nyeri yesterday during the EACC Media Workshop for Journalists practicing in the Central Region, the Commissionâs Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi revealed that the Commission has moved to Court seeking orders to nullify fraudulently acquired titles to public property worth Kes1.2 billion currently in possession of grabbers. Properties worth Kes4 billion in Nyeri, Nanyuki and Nyahururu are under investigations for recovery. The Commission wants all the property returned to the Government. In the recovery suit for Njambini Agricultural Training Centre involving 50 acres valued at over Kes.500 million, the Commission has opposed a proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture to have the recovery case withdrawn. The Ministry, through the Office of the Attorney General in Nakuru, applied to the Court to be enjoined in the case and admission filed an application to have the case withdrawn to allow the Ministry settle it with the Defendant, a company linked to a former Cabinet Secretary. Among the persons sued in the suits filed to recover public land and Government houses grabbed in Nyeri, Nyahururu and Nanyuki are former top State Officials including a former Cabinet Secretary for Lands, former High Court Judge, former Provincial Commissioner and former Commissioner of Land. In the recovery suits currently underway in various Courts in the central region, the Commission has sought a declaration that the allocation and issuance of titles to grabbers by land officials over the various land parcels and subsequent transfers to other parties was null and void and incapable of conferring any estate, interest or right to any person; orders directing the relevant Land Registrars to cancel all fraudulent entries in the land registers and issue new titles in the name of the Government; a permanent injunction restraining illegal owners by themselves, their agents, servants, assigns or any other person whatsoever from dealing in any manner with land except by way of surrender to the Government of Kenya; and compensation for the period the illegal owners have used the land to the detriment of the public. Mr. Ngumbi also called on all persons holding titles to grabbed government property across the country to consider voluntarily surrendering the same to the Commission instead of waiting for the costly and lengthy court process which may nevertheless see them surrender the property and pay costs of the suit and interest to the Commission. EACC is empowered under the law to enter into negotiations with graft suspects to facilitate their voluntary surrender of what they have stolen from the public, under the framework of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Many county governments, the Commission Spokesperson noted, are facing serious accountability challenges and that 1020 high impact investigations involving 24 counties are being investigated on priority basis. He said that the Commission will also monitor execution of county budgets for the next financial year 2024/2025 due to increased cases where County Assemblies are colluding with officers on the County Executive side to budget for corruption largely through allocation of budget for already existing projects or projects that are not intended for execution, as a mechanism for stealing public funds. The one-day anti-corruption workshop was held at the Nyeri National Polytechnic and targeted practicing journalists based in Nyeri and its neighbouring counties. It was facilitated by subject experts from EACC and the media. This was the fourth cohort after similar trainings in Mombasa, Nairobi and Nakuru. EACC training engagement with the media aim at enhancing technical capacity of media practitioners for more effective reporting on corruption and governance-related issues in the counties.
Good job: EACC to its key education sector stakeholders
01:06:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has commended its key stakeholders in the education sector; the Ministry of Education and the Teachersâ Service Commission for the sustained collaboration and support in the fight against corruption and promotion of ethics. EACC, Commissioner John Ogallo said in his Keynote Address at the Integrity Club Patrons Conference in Nairobi, continues to conduct trainings for teachers who are nominated by schools and assigned to lead Integrity Clubs, adding that the Commission has so far trained 664 Integrity Club patrons, 56 of them being from Nairobi County. The Integrity Club Patrons Conference hosted by EACC at Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE) on Friday 31st May, 2024 brought together 40 patrons drawn from primary and secondary schools in Nairobi City County under the theme âPromoting Integrity Education through Integrity Clubâ. It was graced by officials from the Ministry of Education, and the Teachers Service Commission. The objectives of the Conference included equipping participants with knowledge, skills and attitudes on ethics, integrity and anti-corruption; reviewing the activities of Integrity Club in institutions of learning with a view to revitalize the Integrity Clubs; providing an opportunity for experience-sharing and learning among the Integrity Club patrons; and strengthening stakeholder engagement in the fight against corruption. While speaking at the Conference, the Deputy Director for Administration at the Teachersâ Service Commission (TSC), Mr. Ibrahim Rugut said that teachers are the key social influencers and transformers in the communities in which they live and work and, as such, when it comes to integrity issues, they are the mirrors in that whatever they do, the learners will be. He urged teachers to be positive influencers that students will emulate and requested them to reward outstanding behavior. He further urged the teachers to change this country one student at a time, one pupil at a time. In her remarks, Ms. Lydia Njoki Muchemi, the Director for Quality Assurance and Standards at the Ministry of Education implored the teachers to work hard in the clubs they have been given, emphasizing on good values and that God would bless their efforts. Ms. Muchemi used the Kiswahili saying âSamaki mkunje angali mbichiâ to appeal to the teachers to inculcate good values in their learners, adding that a stitch in time saved nine. The trained Integrity Club patrons, Commissioner Ogallo said, are expected to guide the Club members to uphold values and engage in creative activities that seek to promote integrity among members of the school community and other external stakeholders. He applauded the Ministry of Education for embedding the establishment of Integrity Clubs in the previous and the current Kenya Education Sector Strategic Plan (2023-2028), adding that the Commission looks forward to working jointly with them to ensure all institutions of learning establish Integrity Clubs. Later on the same day, Commissioner Ogallo gave a keynote address to participants of the 14th Annual Leadership Gathering which was hosted by Africa Youth Leadership Kenya at Lukenya getaway in Athi-River and dedicated to empowering young leaders to drive significant change in their communities and beyond. . Accompanied by Assistant Director of Partnerships and Coordination Ms Joyce Munene, Mr Ogalo urged the youth to uphold integrity, refine their leadership style and expand their influence because the future lies in their hands.
EACC explores further avenues of collaboration with two key stakeholders
31:05:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has held two separate meetings with two crucial anti-corruption stakeholders where further avenues of collaboration were explored. On the afternoon of Thursday, 30th May, 2024, the Commission hosted a delegation from the African Development Bank (AFDB) led by Ms. Paula Santos Da-Costa, Director, Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption AFDB. She was received by Mr. Joel Mukumu, EACC Director of Finance and Planning. Hailing the value of partnerships and collaborations, Ms. Da-Costa said in her remarks that it was not feasible working in silos. The current partnership between AFDB and the Commission, she said, should be enhanced. Mr. Mukumu welcomed the renewed collaboration with AFDB and noted that partnership was one of the strategic focuses of the EACC with the view of enhancing the fight against corruption and economic crimes. On the afternoon of Wednesday, 29th May, 2024, the Commission also hosted a delegation from the Deutsche Gesellshaft fĂŒr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Kenya. The courtesy visit by GIZ was made to explore potential areas of collaboration between the two institutions under GIZ’s Strengthening Good Governance, and Illicit Financial Flows Programmes. The objective of the proposed collaboration is to improve good governance in the public sector in Kenya and to strengthen systems for the fight against illicit financial flows. The delegation, led by Mr. Thomas Ansorg, Cluster Coordinator – Governance, Peace and Security Cluster, GIZ was received by Mr. Jackson Mue, Director Field Services and Coordination.