Church leaders want EACC disbanded

National Council of Churches of Kenya Secretary General Rev Canon Peter Karanja addresses the press. With him are Rev Canon Rosemary Mbogo, PCEA Moderator Musa Maina and Archbishop Stephen Mareta. [Photo: Jenipher Wachie/Standard]

The Church now wants the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) disbanded.

In a hard-hitting address to the media, the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) said corruption in the country had reached alarming levels.

NCCK General Secretary Peter Karanja accused the Government of laxity in handling graft and accused institutions charged with fighting the vice of finger-pointing instead of taking action.

The organisation asked the President to spearhead the repeal of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2011 by Parliament and instead have a directorate under the Office of the President to deal with investigations and prosecution of corruption cases.

“The executive committee notes that in the fight against corruption, the saddest day for Kenyans this year was October 19, when they watched the proceedings of the Anti-Corruption Summit on live television.

 Biggest hindrance

NCCK also expressed suspicions that bribery might be the biggest hindrance in the fight against corruption.

“Indeed there are grave suspicions that investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers in the value chain are offered bribes to sabotage anti-corruption initiatives thus helping them to escape the consequences,” he said.

NCCK argued that the anti-corruption body had become part of the “endemic deception and fraud” which is a hindrance to the war on corruption.

On past corruption, the religious body asked for a forgiveness strategy for those who have been implicated in corruption, including amnesty from prosecution.

On the health crisis facing the country, Canon Karanja slammed the State’s casual handling of the strike, which entered its third day Wednesday, despite the suffering and death being faced by Kenyans.

Meanwhile, as Kenya prepares to join other countries in marking the International Anti-Corruption Day Friday, a campaign seeking to identify and reward citizens of good moral standing has been launched.

Pioneers of the initiative hope to celebrate change agents by allowing the public to nominate and vote for Kenyans whose good deeds have touched the lives of others in one way or another.

The initiative uses an online platform and an SMS-enabled feedback mechanism that allows Kenyans to identify, nominate and send in details of people they consider change agents in society.