Makueni: Integrity Clubs will be launched at various institutions of higher learning in Makueni County to nurture a generation of ethical and responsible students to become leaders in the country. The revelations were made by the Executive Director for Partnership for Transformation and Development (PTD), Joseph Kioko, at the Red Cross Hall in Wote town, Makueni Subcounty.
According to Kenya News Agency, the programme will be implemented jointly with Makueni Youth Network (MYN) and PTD and targets students at Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) in Makueni, Mbuvo, and Makindu Campuses, Makueni University College (MUC), and Wote Technical Training Institute (WTTI). Kioko highlighted that students will be taught how to fight corruption in universities, their homes, and the wider community.
Kioko emphasized, “We are working with higher learning institutions in the county to form integrity clubs that will shape students to become responsible leaders. We will also inculcate the youths to fight corruption hence make them accountable and transparent and become leaders in the future.” Participants in the one-day training included students from Wote Technical Training Institute, Makueni and Makindu KMTCs, and civil society members.
The programme is funded by the European Union and Kass Kenya, initiated in 2023 and set to run until 2027. It is being implemented in 11 counties, including Makueni, under the umbrella of Makueni Civil Society, which is also an implementer of the programme. Kioko revealed that a plan will be drawn up with the institutions on how they will engage the youths in the coming days.
Speaking at the same event, the Coordinator and Executive Director for Makueni Youth Network stated that they will use the anti-corruption manual to establish the integrity clubs across the higher learning institutions in the county. “Students will be taught about governance, integrity, and leadership values to enable them to become good citizens who are dependable in society,” said Ndeto.
Deputy County Commissioner George Lugo stressed the importance of all stakeholders fighting corruption, attributing it to poor development in several areas in the country. Lugo, also a personal assistant in the county commissioner’s office, challenged civil society to identify government departments that are not serving the people effectively for corrective action. “There is a need to shame the institutions doing badly while serving wananchi. Pressure the institutions, we have to make things work,” he reiterated.
Makueni County Solicitor Jennifer Kyumwa urged attendees to be honest in executing their duties, whether in private or public sectors, to build trust within the community. “If you cannot be a person of integrity, there is no need to be in civil society or public offices. You should set standards to enable you to serve wananchi better,” said Kyumwa.
