Waqo told the Senate Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee that the vice had become rampant in the devolved units, revealing that 200 out of 411 corruption cases currently under investigation are from counties/LABAN WANAMBISI
NAIROBI, Kenya Dec 14 – Almost half of graft cases being investigated by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) involve counties, according to the agency’s Chief Executive Halakhe Waqo.
Waqo told the Senate Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee that the vice had become rampant in the devolved units, revealing that 200 out of 411 corruption cases currently under investigation are from counties.
“A total of 411 cases pending in court with 900 persons having been charged with various corruption offences. From this total number of cases we are investigating cases in 26 counties and already 10 of these are in court,” he said.
The Commission boasted of a successful year which has seen it so far secure 18 convictions and win an appeal case out of a total of 22 cases that have been concluded in court.
At the same time, the Senate Committee Chairman Amos Wako directed Waqo to file a suit in court to compel seven counties to comply with developing Leadership and Integrity Codes for State Officers before next year’s General Election slated for August.
The code is aimed ensuring County Governments set up strong structures and governance systems that promote and enhance transparency and accountability as part of efforts to curb graft.
Waqo told the Senators that the County Assemblies of Isiolo and Kisumu respectively and the County Executives of Meru, Muranga, Samburu, Siaya, Taita Taveta, Isiolo and Busia respectively are yet to show the Commission how they will address various shortcomings in their systems which were highlighted as likely to promote graft in the regional government.
The agency facilitated the development of 119 Specific Leadership and Integrity Codes of State Officers in their respective public entities. Out of the number, the Commission has approved 87 Leadership and Integrity Codes for gazettement.
Commission Vice-Chairperson Sophia Lepuchirit once again warned that the Commission may recommend barring of some Governors from participating in the next year’s elections for mismanaging public money and employing their relatives in counties.
Lepuchirit said the Commission will be narrowing even further to senior officials like County Executives and Directors.
“If you got to counties you will not miss these ‘small millionaires’ who most never owned a bicycle before they joined public service but now they are suddenly rich with latest Prado models and skyscraper buildings,” said Lepuchirit.
“Our assets recovery team is powerful and I assure you, the will not benefit from any of their loot,” she warned.
The Commission has opened investigations on about 27 State officers and 1913 public officers who did not file their declaration of assets, income and liabilities for 2015 with relevant responsible commissions as required.
Seventy eight other State officers are also being investigated on ethical breaches in 22 counties.
Waqo said the investigations relate to conflict, irregularities in employment, use of forged certificates to get employment among others.
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