Kakamega: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday kicked off a week-long public sensitization campaign against corruption.
According to Kenya News Agency, the anti-corruption campaign caravan was flagged off by Dr. Emily Moria, EACC Deputy Director for Education and Public Awareness, accompanied by the EACC Western Regional Director, Erick Ngumbi, and the Kakamega Deputy County Commissioner Titus Mulei.
The caravan will head to different trading centers, markets, and towns in the county over the next few days, spreading awareness messages on corruption prevention, accountability, and integrity to the local people.
Dr. Emily Moria stated that the Commission targeted about 57 towns, markets, and centers in Kakamega County to have a close engagement with the populations on integrity, ethical leadership, and the impact of corruption on development. She emphasized that the program will also reach out to learning institutions, with 11 schools earmarked for visits to instill values of integrity among the local youth.
Dr. Moria stressed the need to involve youth in anti-corruption activities early by instilling moral values and ethical conduct, which is crucial in establishing a corruption-free society. ‘Corruption is a threat, and the message we are sending to the youth of Kakamega County and the whole country is that we have a battle against corruption; we are here to send them a message on morality and integrity,’ she added.
She noted that the engagement was part of the constitutional duties of the Commission and aligns with its goal of uprooting corruption through continuous public education and awareness. The overall objective of the caravan is to provide citizens with the information needed to be active in governance processes and contribute to development.
On his part, Mr. Ngumbi said that ordinary people suffer the most from corruption due to the failure of services, lack of job opportunities, especially for the youth, and the failure of development projects. ‘The people have primarily continued to be at the receiving end of corruption, which denies them timely services. The failure by leadership to provide jobs for the youth and to deliver development is a direct consequence of unchecked corruption. If there is corruption, then there will be no jobs for the youth, citizens will not get services on time, and people will not enjoy the services they deserve,’ he said.
He stated that the knowledge shared through the program would help them to better read and understand public reports, get involved during elections, and engage effectively in accountability at the county level. Ngumbi recalled a previous election when 240 candidates flagged for integrity checks were elected by voters, underscoring the need for access to information.
Kakamega Deputy County Commissioner, Titus Mulei, highlighted the importance of holding campaigns against corruption, noting that everyone, including both the public and private sectors, should be accountable while serving the public and maintain integrity. He mentioned that members of the county executive, county assembly, and the private sector will be involved during the week-long campaign as part of a multi-pronged approach to fighting corruption.
