Only 5.8pc of Kenyans report corruption incidents- EACC

NAKURU,Kenya, May 24 – Corruption remains the country’s public enemy number one according to a new report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The vice which has for years robbed Kenyans billions of shillings, with cases in courts leading to little or almost no results, has an index of 49.4 percent.

Speaking during a media workshop in Naivasha, EACC head of training Gilbert Lukhoba, who read a speech on behalf of EACC Vice Chairperson, Sophia Lepuchirit, said a staggering 67 percent of Kenyans were doing little to combat the vice that threatens public development and sustainability.

“Only 5.8 per cent of the citizenry report graft incidents and we appeal to Kenyans to be proactive in the war against corruption,” said EACC Vice Chairperson.

According to the anti-graft agency, over the past five years, the Commission has concluded investigations into 824 corruption cases in close collaboration with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution securing convictions in 153 cases out of the 244 cases finalised in various courts.

“In addition, the Commission recovered corruptly acquired assets worth approximately Sh 19.9 Billion and disrupted possible loss of public funds worth approximately Sh 96 Billion in the last 10 years. The average annual loss averted approximately Sh 9.6 Billion since the promulgation of the Constitution in 2010,” she said.

She hailed Journalists for their role in fighting corruption in the country.

“Be in the forefront in flagging out suspicious dealings,” she said.

EACC continues to advocate for the need to regard the war against corruption as a long term investment as they strive to impart good values on youth particularly at the formative stage.

Also in the findings, the unemployment index stands at 36.8 per cent while poverty is at 27.2 percent.

Kenya losses more than Sh800 billion annually to graft.