EACC completed 126 corruption files, recovered Ksh.2.9B - Report

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) received a total of 5,171 cases relating to economic crimes in the year 2023/2024.

Speaking during the official unveiling of the report at Integrity Center in Nairobi on Tuesday, the commission's Chairman David Oginde also revealed that a total of 534 files - out of which 25 are of high impact in nature - are currently under investigations.

"I say this with a very heavy heart but we have noted that most of the major corruption scandals are facilitated and executed by professionals including architects, engineers, lawyers, accountants, procurement managers, and doctors," said Oginde.

"The very highly regarded professionals that we used to aspire to when we were young have been destroyed because of people who engage in corruption.”

According to the report, a total of 11 proactive investigation files have been completed resulting in a recovery of assets worth Ksh.2.9 billion that would have been stolen through corruption.

The commission noted that its conviction rate is at 26.7 per cent, with 45 cases already finalized in court resulting in 12 convictions, 24 acquittals and 9 withdrawals.

In addition, the investigation of 126 files on corruption and economic crimes and a further 56 files on violations of Chapter Six of the Constitution has been completed and forwarded to the ODPP for prosecution. 

Additionally, there are a total of 221 criminal cases pending before the court, with 45 cases finalized, resulting in 12 convictions, 24 acquittals and 9 withdrawals.

EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud echoed Oginde's remarks underscoring bribery as the key facilitator of corruption as compared to other forms such as embezzlement, abuse of office and conflict of interest.

“The commission will deliberately focus on ensuring that bribery at the points of service delivery is reduced for the simple reason that the common ordinary person out there comes across this every other day,” Mohamud added.

At the same time, the report highlighted the anti-graft body’s commitment to end corruption in government institutions, noting that it had started undertaking 145 random tests at Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Port Health Services - JKIA, NPS, Ministry of Lands Registries, Kericho Referral Hospital, NTSA, KENHA Weighbridges, and Nairobi City County Government among others.

Furthermore, EACC has finalised 26 cases with an estimated value of Ksh.16 billion which has been traced and 13 applications worth Ksh.1.2 billion.