New anti-graft drive launched

Attorney-General Githu Muigai speaks during a meeting on the adoption of an integrity plan at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi on August 27, 2015. PHOTO | NJUGI NGUGI |

What you need to know:

  • Uhuru to lead a multi-sectoral forum in waging war against vice.
  • Ministers, Principal Secretaries, independent commissions and counties to have role.

President Uhuru Kenyatta will take direct charge of a new fight against corruption in the country.

Mr Kenyatta will be the patron of the National Forum on Integrity, according to recommendations of the Kenya integrity plan.

The team will meet annually to review the achievements of state agencies on the war against corruption and take action.

Attorney-General Githu Muigai and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua led other stakeholders in the adoption of the four-year plan on Thursday at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi.

The main goals are to promote integrity and combat corruption and unethical conduct, raise competitiveness in doing business and forge strategic alliances against corruption.

POLICY DIRECTION

Members of the forum include Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and heads of commissions, among others. They will be required to provide policy direction.

Each sector will be required to develop an internal framework to enhance effective and efficient implementation of the plan.

The Kenya Integrity Plan replaces the National Anti-Corruption Plan, which has been in place since 2006 and, which Prof Muigai admitted on Thursday, had been ineffective.

“We must be honest with ourselves and admit National Anti-Corruption Plan did not achieve the goals for which it was established,” said Prof Muigai. He said the development of the Kenya integrity plan has been ongoing for the last two years and seeks to unite and harness the fight against corruption.

It will involve the agencies and institutions carrying out the fight against corruption, the devolved government, commissions and independent offices, civil society, religious organisations and the media.

Prof Muigai admitted that corruption continues to hurt and destroy the fabric of society.

“There is no sector in Kenya that does not experience the negative effects of the vice. It is now widely accepted that a multi-sectoral approach using a range of diverse strategies constitutes the best anti-dote to combat and prevent the vice,” he said.

Prof Muigai said Kenya is collaborating with other East African countries to develop a regional protocol on preventing and combating corruption.

He maintained that law enforcement agencies alone cannot eliminate corruption given its pervasive and conspiratorial nature.

The attorney-general added that the much awaited National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Policy was nearing completion.

Mr Kinyua insisted that all government resources must be put into the right use to avoid wastage.

He added that the government was committed in fighting corruption.

GOOD CULTURE

Mr Kinyua asked teachers to inculcate a good culture in their learners from an early age so that they can discard the culture of corruption that has taken root in society.

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chief executive Halakhe Waqo said the decision to review the National Anti-Corruption Plan was made in 2012. County governments have been included in the new plan.

“This plan draws from the experience of all Kenyans and recognises that corruption requires a consistent, coherent and collective approach with a long-term perspective,” said Dr Waqo.