NAIROBI, Kenya — A group of Kenyan youth has formally petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), accusing public institutions of entrenched corruption that they say has locked young people out of jobs, business opportunities and essential public services.
The petition, submitted on January 29, 2026, was delivered to the EACC headquarters at the Integrity Centre in Nairobi by delegates of the Eldoret-to-Nairobi Youth Walk, a symbolic journey meant to highlight what the group described as desperation and economic exclusion facing young Kenyans.
In the document, the youth accuse corruption networks within national and county governments of systematically undermining employment, procurement, licensing and youth empowerment programmes, despite the country’s population being overwhelmingly youthful.
“Corruption in Kenya is no longer incidental — it is institutionalised and transactional,” the petition states, arguing that bribery has become a prerequisite for access to public sector jobs, government tenders, business permits and even constitutionally guaranteed services.
Youth locked out of opportunity
The petition notes that more than 75 per cent of Kenya’s population is under 35, yet young people remain the most economically marginalised group.
According to the youth leaders, corruption has effectively shut them out of employment, enterprise funding and public procurement, even where affirmative action policies exist.
They allege that youth empowerment initiatives, including procurement preferences and enterprise funds, have been “hijacked” by politically connected individuals and proxy companies, leaving genuine youth-owned businesses unable to compete.
As a result, the petition says, many young people face chronic unemployment, poverty and social despair, conditions that have fuelled crime, substance abuse and declining trust in public institutions.
Corruption and service delivery
The youth further accuse public offices of commercialising service delivery through bribery, naming police stations, county offices, lands registries and licensing authorities as hotspots.
They argue that routine demands for bribes violate Article 232 of the Constitution, which outlines the values and principles of public service, and have stifled entrepreneurship and innovation.
Claims of human rights violations
Beyond economic exclusion, the petition links corruption to alleged human rights violations, including harassment, arbitrary arrests and intimidation of youth who speak out against graft.
The group claims that some anti-corruption activists have been killed or forcibly disappeared under suspicious circumstances, alleging the involvement of individuals and networks seeking to protect corrupt systems.
They cite violations of constitutional rights, including the right to life, security of the person, and freedoms of expression and assembly.
Demands to EACC
The youth have asked the EACC to publicly acknowledge receipt of the petition and launch comprehensive investigations into corruption affecting youth employment, procurement and service delivery.
Among their key demands are audits of youth empowerment programmes, protection for whistle-blowers, investigations into corruption-linked killings, and regular public updates on actions taken.
They also want structured engagement between the EACC and youth representatives, alongside broader reforms aimed at dismantling corruption networks they say perpetuate poverty and inequality.
EACC welcomes petition
Receiving the petition, EACC Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Abdi A. Mohamud commended the youth for their peaceful walk and civic engagement, describing the initiative as a powerful demonstration of commitment to integrity and accountability.
Mohamud said the Commission was ready to receive, study and act on the petition within its constitutional and legal mandate, adding that the concerns raised align with EACC’s strategic focus on uniting the youth against corruption.
“The fight against corruption is a collective responsibility,” he said, assuring the youth of the Commission’s willingness to work with them and other partners to promote ethics, integrity and good governance.
He also encouraged the youth to engage the National Youth Council and other organised groups, noting that EACC has an existing memorandum of understanding aimed at placing young people at the centre of anti-corruption efforts.
Symbolic walk
The petition describes the Eldoret-to-Nairobi walk as a form of peaceful resistance, representing frustration with exclusion and a call for dignity, justice and opportunity.
“The youth of Kenya refuse to inherit a nation destroyed by corruption,” the petition concludes, urging accountability and systemic reform.
