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EACC tells experts to stop using their skills for corruption
EACC chairperson has urged professionals to stop using their skills to facilitate corruption.
Professionals are increasingly using their skills to orchestrate corruption, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has said.
The anti-corruption watchdog said that architects, engineers, lawyers, accountants, procurement officers, human resource practitioners and medical professionals were among those who used their expertise to facilitate various forms of corruption.
“We note that most mega scandals are planned and executed by professionals ... We want to urge them to desist from deploying their expertise to facilitate theft of public funds,” said EACC Chairperson David Oginde during the launch of the commission’s annual report for the financial year 2023/2024.
According to the report, bribery was the most common form of corruption, accounting for 42.2 per cent of cases handled in the financial year, a significant increase from 31 per cent in 2022/2023.
Embezzlement of public funds followed at 13.3 per cent, while unethical conduct (12.4 per cent) and fraudulent acquisition and disposal of public property (11.5 per cent) also remained challenges.
“The launch provides a platform for the Commission to reflect on the state of corruption in the country, the grave harm it continues to do to citizens, and the reform opportunities available to strengthen anti-corruption interventions,” Mr Oginde said.
Other forms of corruption, such as abuse of office (5.6 per cent), public procurement irregularities (5.2 per cent) and unexplained wealth (3.8 per cent) were also noted, though they remain less dominant.
Another worrying trend, the report showed, is the rise in unethical conduct, which rose from 11 per cent in the previous financial year to 12.4 per cent.
Cases of fraudulent acquisition and disposal of public property in the same period showed a slight decline in compared to 2022/2023. Conflict of interest and fraud-related crimes maintained relatively low-level, averaging 3 per cent to 5 per cent over the past four years.
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Mr Oginde also raised concerns about the involvement of families in corrupt dealings.
“We have observed an emerging pattern where public officials are enrolling close family members as conduits for theft of public funds, thus negating the divine role of the family as the foundation of virtues.
"I call upon family members to refuse to be enlisted in corrupt deals. Instead, parents should take up their roles in shaping morality in society,” he said.
In the period covered by the report, the commission finalised and forwarded 126 investigation files on corruption, economic crimes and unethical conduct to the Director of Public Prosecutions recommending prosecution of suspects.
EACC also finalised 56 files on violations of Chapter Six of the Constitution and filed 47 new civil suits to recover assets estimated at Sh9.2 billion. Further, it managed to recover corruptly acquired assets and unexplained wealth held by public officers worth Sh2.9 billion.
“Cumulatively, the commission is currently pursuing over 400 cases for forfeiture of corruptly acquired assets valued at approximately Sh49.5 billion,” said EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Ahmed Mohamud.
Mr Oginde called on the public to actively participate in combating corruption.
“We call upon the public to discharge their civic responsibilities and support anti-corruption initiatives. Do not engage in or encourage corruption. Instead, refuse and report any incidence of corruption you encounter,” he said.
