EACC to implement recommendations of the 2015-2016 Auditor General report

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Vice Chairperson Sophia Lepuchirit.

The anti-graft agency has promised to implement the recommendations of the 2015-2016 Auditor General's report that implicated counties in massive corruption.

Senior officials of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) yesterday said they would focus more on corruption cartels that had been embezzling public funds hence denying Kenyans quality service delivery.

“Corruption has been devolved to counties since the establishment of the county governments in 2013. Some governors and staff have become overnight millionaires.

"We will audit their lifestyles before devolution and after. We are also checking how much they own verses their income,” said EACC Vice Chairperson Sophia Lepuchirit.

Ms Lepuchirit noted that counties had failed to adhere to financial and procurement laws, compromising public interest at the altar of private interest, fraudulent claims, embezzlement and bribery.

Speaking during the launch of corruption risk assessment for the executive and assembly in Wundanyi town yesterday, the official said corruption was rife in revenue and procurement departments where counties had been losing millions of shillings through corrupt deals.

Lupuchirit was accompanied by Governor Granton Samboja, EACC director in-charge of prevention, Patrick Ashiruma, senior prevention officer Peninah Nzioka, County Assembly Speaker Meshack Maganga and County Assembly Clerk Michael Ngala.

Unethical issues

“Kenyans fought for devolution to improve service delivery. Let’s make it work. Those sabotaging revenue collection will be dealt with according to the law,” she said.

“There are integrity and unethical issues facing county governments and that is why we carrying out risk assessment to teach officials how to prevent corruption. Most cases revolve around procurement and employment where some governors have employed their relatives,” said Lepuchirit.

She said the commission seeks to enable institutions to detect, prevent and combat corruption and unethical practices in the management of public affairs.

Mr Samboja said revenue collection has been declining at alarming levels since the start of devolution.

“It is unfortunate that the county is now collecting an amount similar to what the defunct Taveta Town Council collected... about Sh170 million annually. In 2013, the county collected 246 million. This has reduced to Sh172 million,” the governor explained.

Samboja noted that it had become difficult for the county to operate and deliver quality services.