Kenya marks African Anti-Corruption Day with calls for people-centred fight against graft

Kenya joined the rest of Africa in marking this year's 9th Edition of the African Anti-Corruption Day, with calls for people-centred approaches to the fight against graft.

The event hosted by EACC through the Kenya Leadership Integrity Forum (KLIF) brought together stakeholders from across the public, private, and civil society sectors to raise awareness on the fight against corruption under the theme: "Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption."

The Day, marked annually on July 11, was established by the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC) to provide a platform for stakeholders to reflect on anti-corruption efforts and galvanise action across the continent.

This year's theme highlights the critical link between corruption and human rights, emphasising how corrupt practices erode public service delivery and compromise the dignity and well-being of citizens.

Speaking during the event held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said corruption is a "crime against humanity," owing to its devastating effect on governance, service delivery, and public trust.

"Corruption continues to stifle the economy, deny citizens access to basic rights such as healthcare, safe environments, and essential government services. But most critically, it undermines human dignity," he said.

Abdi revealed that the Commission had recovered assets worth approximately Sh28 billion in the last six years through proactive investigations and averted potential losses estimated at Sh42 billion.

He said ongoing asset recovery efforts target a further Sh50 billion suspected to have been illicitly acquired.

The asset recovery efforts are aimed at making graft unattractive by recovering public resources that have been converted to personal use.

Abdi said that after recovery, the assets are then repurposed to restore public welfare and uphold human dignity.

As such, a 60-acre parcel of land initially grabbed has since been recovered and repurposed for the provision of affordable and dignified housing for residents of informal settlements.

On his part, EACC Chairperson Dr David Oginde underscored the importance of anti-corruption efforts in protecting national resources that contribute to equitable development.

"We aim at protecting resources that will in turn ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential, that every family has access to necessities, and that every citizen is treated with fairness and respect," he said.

Dr Oginde further commended the youth across Africa for their growing demand for ethical governance and integrity-driven leadership and stressed the need for independent justice sector actors and an empowered, vigilant citizenry capable of holding leaders and institutions accountable.

Former Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai, the chief guest at the event, noted that, at its core, corruption is a direct assault on human dignity.

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"It erodes the value, rights, and worth of individuals, especially the most vulnerable in our society. Corruption is not just the theft of money; it is the theft of hope, the denial of dignity, and the erosion of citizenship. It tells people that who you know matters more than what you need. It says access to justice, jobs, or medical care depends on a bribe, not a right," he said.

In acknowledging the role of stakeholders in the fight against corruption, he also recognised that institutions alone are not enough and that society must rise.

"Citizens are not mere spectators; they are sovereigns in our democracy. The private sector will have a role, because corruption does not happen in a vacuum. Every corrupt public official has a willing private accomplice," he said.

Members of the civil society present urged Kenyans not to relent on playing their role in identifying, disrupting, and reporting corruption to preserve national integrity and promote dignity for all.

Transparency International's Executive Director, Sheillah Masinde, further said that protecting whistleblowers remains a key factor in promoting the fight against graft.

"If we are going to be talking about human dignity in the fight against corruption, we must start by taking care of those who are reporting corruption, because right now, by the time people are reporting corruptio,n they are stigmatised, ostracised, you would think they are the ones who have stolen. Yet the ones who have stolen are the ones who continue to be pampered like they have done something great in this country," she said.