NAIROBI, Kenya – To strengthen the fight against corruption, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has called on Parliament to enact a comprehensive whistleblower protection law.
EACC Chairman David Oginde and CEO Twalib Mbarak emphasized that the absence of such legislation has deterred public officers from exposing graft within government ranks.
“The commission calls upon the National Assembly to prioritize the enactment of the Whistleblowers Protection Bill,” Mbarak stated.
He highlighted that this bill would empower more Kenyans to report corruption and unethical conduct without fearing adverse consequences.
Oginde stressed the importance of public trust in the effectiveness of whistleblower laws. He announced that the Whistleblower Bill 2024 has been published and is open for public participation.
“For whistleblower laws to be effective, the public must be aware of them and trust the mechanisms in place,” Oginde said.
He pointed out that whistleblowing in Kenya is currently hampered by a trust deficit in public institutions and obstruction by some heads of ministries, departments, and agencies.
Oginde also addressed broader issues obstructing the fight against corruption, including politicizing corruption cases and using court orders by high-profile suspects to delay judicial processes.
He criticized Parliament for weakening anti-corruption laws, specifically citing the Conflict of Interest Bill of 2023.
This bill has been altered to allow state officers to do business with the government and removed provisions requiring the suspension of state officers under investigation.
“The removal from the Conflict of Interest Bill provisions requiring suspension of state officers while being investigated is draconian as their continued stay in office will undermine law enforcement,” Oginde stated.
He also noted the weakening of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, which sought to decriminalize procurement offenses, despite procurement malpractices accounting for over 90 percent of corruption cases in the country.
Mbarak highlighted the importance of preventive measures in public institutions, urging them to establish policies and procedures that encourage whistleblowing.
“Whistleblowing is a critical source of information about the secretive acts of corruption, perpetrators, and the schemes employed to defraud the public,” he said.
The EACC has adhered to the principle of confidentiality in its operations, aiming to protect whistleblowers from retaliation.
In his concluding remarks, Mbarak called on all Kenyans, including the youth, to actively participate in the fight against corruption.
He stressed that combating graft should be a collective effort and part of the national agenda.
