Nairobi: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has made an appeal for increased funding, staffing, and technological capacity to bolster its investigative capabilities and intensify efforts against corruption and unethical conduct. Speaking at a public engagement forum in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, EACC Director of Legal Services David Too emphasized the need for additional resources to investigate more cases, monitor public projects, and recover assets acquired through corrupt practices.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the forum focused on the Commission’s FY 2027/28 budget estimates, Too noted that stakeholders have urged the deployment of more resources in the fight against corruption, specifically within county and national governments. Residents highlighted the need for more personnel to investigate numerous reported cases. Too identified bribery at service delivery points as a significant concern, emphasizing that it remains a strategic priority for the Commission.
Too explained that feedback from the public, organizations, and other stakeholders would guide the Commission’s budget priorities, directing resources to impactful areas. He stressed that public participation in the budget-making process is a constitutional requirement and is supported by the Public Finance Management Act. The Commission has conducted similar engagements in various regions, including Nakuru, Nyeri, Isiolo, Malindi, and Mombasa.
Too acknowledged that while the National Assembly increased the Commission’s budget from Sh4.3 billion to Sh4.9 billion, allowing for the recruitment of about 100 additional staff, the allocation remains insufficient for the Commission’s needs. He mentioned that development partners continue to support capacity-building efforts.
The EACC highlighted challenges such as sophisticated corruption schemes, cybercrime, illicit financial flows, and inadequate data systems, underscoring the need for investment in digital forensics, data analytics, and information-sharing systems. Weak legal and institutional frameworks, prolonged processes, and inadequate inter-agency coordination were also cited as obstacles in the fight against corruption.
The Commission is committed to pursuing legal reforms, strengthening enforcement, improving case management, and enhancing inter-agency coordination. Too emphasized the importance of monitoring capital-intensive projects, asset recovery, and preventing bribery at service delivery points.
The EACC reported investigating 572 cases involving corruption and unethical conduct in the 2025/26 financial year, forwarding 178 files to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further action. The Commission recovered assets valued at approximately Sh3.6 billion and secured preservation orders for assets worth about Sh7.3 billion.
In its prevention and public education efforts, the Commission sensitized 177,000 learners on ethics and integrity and reached over 92,000 citizens through outreach programs. It conducted 312 sensitization sessions for public officers, reaching 22,508 individuals. The EACC also partnered with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development to enhance ethics education in schools.
For the 2026/27 financial year, the Commission has an approved budget of Sh4.973 billion for recurrent expenditure and Sh123 million for development expenditure. Its targets include investigating 436 cases, recovering Sh4.5 billion in assets, and preserving assets worth approximately Sh2.4 billion. The EACC plans to sensitize 300,000 learners and complete 100 investigations into ethical violations.
The Commission invites stakeholders to submit proposals and memoranda outlining priority interventions and expected outcomes via [email protected]. The Eldoret forum is part of a nationwide public participation and stakeholder engagement exercise to inform the proposed FY 2027/28 budget and Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.
