NCCK wants EACC disbanded for failing to arrest corruption

NCCK Secretary-General Peter Karanja (centre) addresses the media in Limuru on April 22, 2016. The council wants the anti-graft agency disbanded. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The church leaders, led by Canon Peter Karanja, termed corruption as “economic treason” that should be redefined by legislation with tougher penalties.

  • They took issue with President Kenyatta’s apparent helplessness in fighting the vice, saying a recent State House summit on corruption as the "saddest day for Kenya".

The Church has called for the disbandment of the anti-corruption agency, terming it “part of the endemic deception and fraud” and a hindrance to the fight against the vice.

The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) on Wednesday said the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had not fulfilled its mandate and the corrupt were getting bolder by the day.

The council asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to lead the fight to repeal the EACC Act 2011 and reconstitute the commission.

HEAVY COSTS

“The EACC has not fulfilled its core mandate as enshrined in the law, and Kenyans cannot justify the costs associated with keeping it operational,” the NCCK said in a statement read by the General-Secretary, Canon Peter Karanja.

“It has become part of the endemic deception and fraud and as currently structured, may even be a hindrance in the fight against corruption.”

The council was making the statement after a two-day executive committee meeting at the Jumuia Resort in Limuru.

To deal with graft, the team has proposed the formation of a directorate under the Office of the President to deal with the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases.

ECONOMIC TREASON

“In so doing, the current and future presidents will never have an excuse not to deal conclusively with the corruption vice which will otherwise bring the country to its knees,” Canon Karanja said.

The clergy proposed that those found to have engaged in corruption be barred for 10 years from all elective and public appointive positions, surrender all the looted funds, swear not to engage in the vice in future as well as name their co-conspirators, for any amnesty to be extended.

“The crime of corruption going forward should be redefined in law and escalated to the same standard as espionage, treason and murder with attendant grave punishment,” they said.

“For indeed corruption is economic treason.”

ENDEMIC PROBLEM

Murder and treason both attract the maximum death penalty.

The EACC is an independent commission established under Chapter 15 of the Constitution and with the EACC Act of 2011 as the enabling legislation in its functions.

It has faced intense criticism in the fight against graft, with President Kenyatta saying the commission, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Judiciary have been funded but have failed to conclusively dealt with the vice.

The church leaders said corruption had invaded every sector of the society so much so that it might soon lead to an 'economic meltdown” if not checked.

“When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of people are filled with schemes to do wrong,” the council said, quoting Ecclesiastes 8:11.

MEGA SCAMS

Kenya has been faced with massive loss of public funds in mega scandals that unfold every day, with each of them seemingly getting bigger and bolder than its predecessor.

Critics have raised the red flag in the Sh1.2 billion theft in the National Youth Service Scandal, the Sh250 billion Eurobond proceeds audit queries and the Sh5.2 billion audit queries in the Health ministry

“Corruption threatens to cripple the nation with the attendant costs of rise in cost of doing business, collapse of service delivery in public service, and ultimately an economic meltdown,” the council said.

STATE HOUSE SUMMIT

“As one corruption scandal has been followed by another, no decisive action has been taken on the suspected perpetrators.”

The NCCK faulted the October 19 anti-corruption summit at State House where a furious President Kenyatta raised his hands in apparent surrender asking, 'What more should I do?”

“It was heartbreaking to watch as the institutions that are constitutionally and legislatively mandated to eradicate corruption engaged in escapist blame games,” Canon Karanja said.

 

WHAT THE NCCK WANTS

•        EACC to be disbanded

•        Repeal of law to ensure corruption attracts maximum death penalty as murder and treason

•        Creation of a directorate under Office of the President to investigate and prosecute corruption cases

•        Corrupt leaders be barred from elective and appointive politics for 10 years