President Kenyatta will be seeking a second term on a Jubilee Party while Odinga will fly the flag on behalf of the super opposition outfit, NASA/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 17 – President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM’s Raila Odinga are among 11 presidential aspirants who have submitted their self-wealth declaration forms to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Commission Chairperson Retired Archbishop Eliud Wabukala has said three deputy presidential candidates have also submitted their declaration forms, 263 gubernatorial aspirants, 81 deputy gubernatorial aspirants, 333 senatorial, 361 Woman Representative, 1,964 Member of Parliament and 12,913 Member of County Assembly hopefuls.
“We’re doing our part in terms of doing what we are required to do so that we can vet those people who want to stand for elections,” Wabukala said.
Speaking during the unveiling of a partnership with faith-based organisations on Wednesday, Wabukala said the commission will conduct a background check on the information submitted by to ensure candidates meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution and Section 13 of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012.
Since January, Wabukala said assets worth Sh335 million have been preserved with a total of 432 cases pending in court in efforts by EACC to see corrupt government officials held to account for financial impropriety.
“We have 1,340 officials charged with various corruption offences and we have disrupted the loss of public funds close Sh1.6 billion,” he said.
President Kenyatta will be seeking a second term on a Jubilee Party while Odinga will fly the flag on behalf of the Opposition outfit, National Super Alliance (NASA).
The EACC had in April this year said candidates aspiring for various elective seats in the forthcoming polls will be required to submit self declaration forms to facilitate their clearance.
Wabukala said at the time EACC will strictly abide by the law when determining the suitability or otherwise of those vying in the August 8th General Election.
READ: What you must do to get EACC clearance for August polls
Among questions contained in the declaration form include; whether or not one has ever engaged in any kind of dishonest in conduct of public affairs, abused a public office, misrepresented information to the public, engaged in wrongful conduct whilst in furtherance of personal benefit and whether one has ever misused public resources.
Other questions focus on discrimination, falsification of official or personal records, de-registration from professional bodies, revocation of occupational of vocational license, dismissal on account of lack of integrity, failure by holders of public office to declare income, assets and liabilities as required by Public Officer Ethics Act of 2003, conviction and sentencing for at least six months and whether or not an aspirant has ever been denied a certificate of good conduct or not.
In the partnership action plan signed with FBOs Wednesday, EACC is set to spend Sh173.25 in a programme to be executed together with the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) in efforts to scale up the war on graft.
In a budget presented during the forum, Sh5,000,000 is set to be used by clergy to undertake media campaigns through sermons in local media stations.
Fifteen million shillings will be used to develop preaching guidelines and materials for religious leaders with public outreaches set to take up to Sh15.5 million.
Another Sh10 million will be used to craft new anti-corruption messaging techniques with grassroots campaigns to be spearheaded by religious leader are set to take up an equivalent amount.
The EACC intends to use Sh10 million to develop its capacity for effective communication with this year’s National Prayer Day for promoting integrity set to cost Sh5.5 million.
In order to improve its visibility countrywide, the commission intends to use six million shillings in awareness creation activities.
The budget will be implemented for a period varying between May 2017 and December 2019.
FBOs taking part in the programme include IRCK, National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK), Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), Organization of African Instituted Churches-Kenya (OAIC-K), Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), Kenya Women Faith Network, Kenya Inter Faith Network, among other societies.
About The Author
