Civil Groups Hail EACC Crackdown on Kiambu Officials, Urge Speedy Justice in Corruption Fight
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have raised alarm over a growing trend of normalizing corruption in county governments, citing repeated adverse audit reports by the Auditor General.
In Kiambu County, the trend appears particularly alarming, with each successive financial year under the current administration attracting negative audit findings.In her most recent report, the Auditor General decried the inaction by relevant authorities, warning that the lack of accountability is emboldening corrupt officials.
The report paints a troubling picture of continued embezzlement and mismanagement of public funds in the county.In response, Bunge Mashinani Initiative, a grassroots organization under the Kiambu County Social Accountability Network (KISANET), mobilized citizens to demand action.
Through the Tupigane na Ufisadi project, the organization disseminated the audit findings to the public and called for urgent intervention by investigative agencies.The pressure appears to have borne fruit.
On Tuesday, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) launched a high-profile raid targeting county officials, including Governor Kimani Wamatangi and several County Executive Committee Members (CECs).
The operation led to the recovery of over Kshs. 15 million in cash, both in Kenya Shillings and US Dollars, suspected to be proceeds of crime.“These are resources that could have been used to improve healthcare, water, and sanitation in Kiambu,” noted Bunge Mashinani in a statement.
“There comes a time when citizens must stamp their feet and deal with this monster called corruption that is condemning us to a life of poverty.”
The organization commended the EACC for the bold step and urged the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Judiciary to ensure swift prosecutions.
They called for visible convictions, referencing the recent rulings against former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu and ex-Nyandarua Governor Daniel Waithaka, both found guilty in procurement-related corruption cases.
In addition, the CSOs issued a fresh set of demands to bolster the fight against corruption including,Strict enforcement of Chapter Six of the Constitution to vet public officials and political aspirants, focusing on integrity and wealth declaration,Urgent enactment of the Whistleblower Protection Bill (2023) and fast-tracking of legislative reforms to minimize delays in corruption case prosecutions.
Others include,Guaranteeing the independence of oversight institutions like EACC, ODPP, and the Judiciary through adequate funding and protection and effective implementation of the Access to Information Act (2016) to enhance transparency and public access to government records.
As Kiambu reels from yet another corruption scandal, CSOs hope that ongoing investigations will serve as a wake-up call to county governments and a warning to corrupt public officials across the country.
