NAIROBI, Kenya – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has raised the alarm over a growing scheme where public officials enlist family members as proxies to siphon public funds, undermining both governance and the moral fabric of society.
EACC Chairperson David Oginde, speaking at the launch of the Commission’s Annual Report for the Financial Year 2023/2024, condemned the trend, calling it a betrayal of ethical leadership and a corruption of the family unit itself.
“We have observed an emerging pattern where public officials are enrolling close family members as conduits for the theft of public funds, thus negating the divine role of the family as the foundation of virtues. We call upon family members to refuse to be enlisted in corrupt deals,” Oginde said.
Graft and Family Ties State officials are increasingly enrolling family members, including spouses and children, as conduits for theft of public funds. This trend is starkly illustrated by the ongoing multi-million civil and criminal graft cases involving 9 nine former Governors…
The Commission detailed its efforts in the fight against corruption, highlighting the recovery of assets worth KSh2.9 billion acquired through illicit means and the filing of 47 new civil suits to reclaim an additional KSh9.2 billion.
Proactive investigations, it noted, prevented the loss of another KSh2.9 billion in public funds.
In total, the EACC is currently pursuing over 400 cases to recover KSh49.5 billion in assets suspected to have been fraudulently acquired.
Despite these gains, EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud pointed to persistent challenges, including weak legal frameworks that obstruct the enforcement of Chapter Six of the Constitution, which governs leadership and integrity.
He also faulted Ministries, Departments, Agencies, and County Governments for failing to implement recommended anti-corruption measures.
To close legal loopholes, Oginde urged Parliament to pass the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Bill 2025, which aims to strengthen existing laws and bolster accountability mechanisms.
He also called on citizens to reject corrupt dealings and report any instances of graft, emphasizing that public participation is crucial in the fight against corruption.
The EACC’s warning comes amid ongoing investigations into multiple counties over the loss of KSh6.3 billion, underscoring the deep-rooted nature of corruption in Kenya’s public sector.
