How corruption continues to fuel poverty in Kenya

Nominated Senator Crystal Asige, former Attorney General Githu Muigai, EACC commissioner Alfred Mshimba, and EACC Chairman David Oginde during the African Anti-corruption day held at KICC on July,11,2025. [Benard Orwongo/Standard] The persistent stealing of public funds has been flagged as a major contributor to poverty in the country, with warnings that graft erodes the value, rights, and worth of individuals. Former Attorney General Githu Muigai said when a citizen pays to access what is rightfully theirs, it is not simply unethical, but the theft of hope, denial of dignity and erosion of citizenship. He observed that plunder of public resources deprives citizens of their basic rights, including the right to education and healthcare. "When public officials plunder the public purse, they just don't violate a financial rule or break the law. They violate our people's right to access to health care, clean water, education, and justice," he said. "When patients are turned away from hospitals because money was diverted for private gain, their dignity is stripped away. When a job is given not to the most qualified, but to the best connected, then we lose an entire generation. This is a betrayal of human dignity." Prof Muigai spoke on Friday in Nairobi during the commemoration of African Anti-Corruption Day 2025, themed "Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption." The event is marked on July 11 every year to commemorate the adoption of the continental convention on preventing and combating corruption, with this year's celebration seeking to highlight the impact of graft on the lives of commoners who bear the brunt of corruption. "Corruption turns citizens into bystanders, or worse, into prey. It turns service into exploitation. It transforms public duty into personal gain. It distorts the public service by shifting the mindset from how can I start to what can I take," said Prof. Muigai. EACC Chairperson Bishop David Oginde said the war against corruption should not end with upholding the law and apprehending the perpetrators. "It should centre on defending the dignity of every citizen because that is the only way we can build a society where all of us have a space and a place to do what we need to do to earn our living in a respectable and dignified way," he said. He urged the public and all stakeholders to collaborate in instilling the culture of integrity and dignity in every sector and to demonstrate to the young people the dangers of abetting corruption. Senator Crystal Asige said the commission must "include ethics education, best service practice and also rebuilding citizens' confidence in justice," to end the menace. The African Charter defines human dignity as the intrinsic worth of every human being, the right to be treated with respect, with fairness, and with equality. During the event, it also emerged that the anti-graft watch has recovered Sh28 billion in the last five years. "In the same period, EACC has disrupted corruption networks through investigations and diverted assets worth Sh41 billion losses," said John Ogallo, EACC Commissioner, adding the commission is halfway to recovering, explaining wealth and corruptly acquired assets worth over Sh50 billion. The speakers urged Parliament to pass the whistleblower protection Bill that has stalled for about 12 years to help in the fight against graft in the country.

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