Murang’a – In Murang’a, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has commenced a public outreach program aimed at raising awareness about corruption. This initiative, launched ahead of International Anti-Corruption Day, involves EACC officials conducting a week-long sensitization campaign across the county.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Commission’s Preventive Service Director, who spoke at the launch event at Murang’a county headquarters, the program’s objective is to educate the public on corruption issues and gather information from the community for potential investigations.
In addition to public outreach, the EACC will conduct training sessions with various departments of the county government. Following these efforts, the commission plans to release a report ranking both national and county government entities based on corruption levels. This report is part of an evaluation to track progress made in the anti-corruption fight over the past decade. Okongo revealed that the EACC has investigated over 635 corruption cases, with 251 finalized, and has recovered assets and funds worth over Sh23.7 billion. The commission is also pursuing assets valued at Sh40 billion.
International Anti-Corruption Day, set for December 9, will be observed under the theme, ‘United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) at 20, uniting the world against corruption.’ This theme emphasizes the importance of global collaboration and partnerships, considering corruption’s transboundary nature.
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata expressed the county’s support for the EACC’s activities. He warned county officials against engaging in corrupt practices, highlighting the societal inequalities fostered by corruption. Kang’ata emphasized that corrupt officials would be held accountable for their actions and mentioned the county’s cooperation with EACC, including providing documents and transparency in processes. He noted that the county’s move to open tendering policies and the ongoing automation of services have been instrumental in combating corruption. As a result, the county’s daily revenue collection has increased from Sh80,000 to Sh400,000. Additionally, payments for programs like the Murang’a Youth Service (MYS) and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) are now made through mobile services and banks to improve accountability.