Kenya joined the rest of the continent in commemorating the 9th African Anti-Corruption Day under the theme “Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight against Corruption”.
The event, organized by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Kenya National Integrity Forum, brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, legal experts, and civil society representatives, to reflect on the progress and challenges in the country’s anti-corruption efforts.
Speaking during the event at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the Principal Secretary (PS) for Constitutional Affairs, Justice, and Human Rights, Judith Pareno, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening laws, systems, and institutions that combat corruption while promoting the dignity and rights of all Kenyans.
“The fight against corruption is not just a legal or political matter. It is a moral duty to protect the dignity and humanity of our citizens. Every time public funds are misused, lives are lost and rights are denied,” she said.
The PS noted that in the past two months, the State Department had conducted public participation forums in 13 counties on three key legislative proposals.
She said the bills aim to strengthen Kenya’s anti-corruption legal framework by aligning it with public expectations and constitutional provisions. The laws will also support amendments to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, Human Rights Act, and other governance-related legislation.
“We are building institutions that can enforce the law, protect whistleblowers, and recover stolen assets for the benefit of the public,” she said.
The PS emphasized the importance of the E-Government Procurement (EGP) platform, which became mandatory for all government procurement processes from July 1, 2025.
She said the move is aimed at enhancing transparency and eliminating opportunities for fraud in public procurement.
“No agency will be allowed to transact outside this platform. This marks a new era of transparency in government,” she stated.
The Chairperson of the EACC, Dr David Oginde, noted that while the public often focuses on arrests and prosecutions, the Commission has prioritized prevention as a long-term strategy.
“We have realized that most complaints from the public are about petty bribery during service delivery. Prevention is our priority,” he said.
Oginde further stated that the Head of Public Service recently issued a circular requiring all public institutions to comply with Section 9 of the Anti-Bribery Act by September 30, 2025, and report progress to the EACC.
Concurrently, the Parliament is reviewing the Conflict-of-Interest Bill, returned by the President for revision. The bill is expected to streamline asset declarations and improve accountability among public officers.
Former Attorney General Prof. Githu Muigai delivered a powerful speech, urging Kenyans to shift the anti-corruption fight from mere institutional reforms to a broader moral and ethical awakening. He warned that corruption has deeply eroded public trust and stripped many citizens of their dignity.
“Affinity is violated when patients are turned away from hospitals because public funds have been diverted for private gain,” said Prof. Muigai. “When positions go to the politically favoured and not the most qualified, we lose not just individuals; we lose a generation.”
He termed corruption as “a betrayal of humanity,” noting that it transforms public duty into personal gain and alters the mindset from “How can I serve” to “What can I take.”
According to Prof. Muigai, the war on corruption must become a moral revolution aimed at restoring public trust and citizen dignity.
Prof. Muigai called on citizens, institutions, and leaders to play a united role in uprooting corruption.
He said, “The fight against corruption is not the job of a few. It is the duty of all. When institutions are weak, impunity flourishes. But when they are strong and principled, they defend public trust.”
Prof. Muigai also stressed the importance of judicial and law enforcement institutions, urging support for officers who uphold justice without fear or favour.
“When citizens believe justice can be bought or delayed, they lose faith in fairness,” he said.
While noting that public institutions are often blamed for corruption, Prof. Muigai emphasized the role of the private sector in driving the vice.
“We will not succeed if we focus only on the public sector and ignore those who fuel corruption behind closed doors,” he stated.
He commended the EACC for making significant strides in civil asset recovery, noting that in the 2023-2024 Financial Year, the agency filed 47 new civil suits targeting Sh9.2 billion and pursued ongoing cases worth Sh49.5 billion. So far, Sh2.9 billion has been recovered.
By Fride Amani and George Gerish
