EACC calls for transparency in how military billions are spent in Kenya

NAKURU, Kenya, Feb, 16 – Though military resources are managed behind a veil of secrecy, the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) is calling for increased measures to improve accountability within the defense forces.

Speaking during an integrity assurance officers training for staff of the Ministry of Defence, EACC chairperson Archbishop Eliud Wabukala said that the failure to audit billions of funds allocated to the military could lead to misuse.

This, he said has the ability of cultivating graft.

“Military resources are managed behind a veil of secrecy, justified on grounds of national security and such resources can easily be wasted or stolen if strong preventive measures are not put in place,” the EACC chairperson said.

The use of funds allocated to the military are protected on grounds of national security and as a result, they’re often not audited like other state agencies.

EACC however says there is need for stronger, preventive measures, to protect the funds and demand accountability.

There has been suspicions of malpractices within the Defense Forces in the past.

Like any other agency, Wabukala said, “the military is faced with other forms of corruption including kickbacks and skewed recruitment exercises.”

“Other forms of corruption risks in the defense sector include bribery, collusion in promotions, bid rigging, influence peddling, theft of funds, embezzlement and fraud,”

Though the EACC lacks the mandate to investigate the use of the funds, Wabukala called for strong measures within the forces to protect the public funds and uphold accountability at the highest level.

“It’s imperative that armed forces are prepared to prevent or mitigate the extent, severity and impact of corrupt practices in their operational theatres,” Wabukala said.

During the workshop spearheaded by the National Integrity Academy, the training arm of the EACC, It was been established that a number of public institutions entrusted to offer services are continuing to perpetuate embezzlement of public resources, even after being trained on matters of ethics and integrity.

Statistics from a survey conducted by the EACC indicated that corruption still tops the list of major challenges facing the country at 49.4 percent, unemployment at 36.8 and poverty at 27.2 percent.