The Ethics and Anti – Corruption Commission (EACC) recovered assets worth Sh.26.65 billion in 2018 and 2019.
The huge recovery success has been largely attributed to the critical role played by the media directly or indirectly and it is against this background that the EACC has rolled out a training program for journalists across the country with the latest being held in Kisumu.
The EACC Deputy Director, Education & Awareness creation Dr. Emily Mworia urged the media to keep highlighting well investigated corruption stories corroborated by investigating authorities for authenticity.
She was speaking today while opening a three-day forum for 30 journalists drawn from various media houses in Western Kenya.
The National Youth Service (NYS), Goldenberg, Chicken Gate and Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) scandals were some of the mega corruption scandals cited.
However, Mworia cautioned the journalists to always stick to their professional ethics even as they go about following on investigative pieces. “The media is awash with fake news and propaganda which have greatly dented the immense progress so far made in the fight against the scourge,” she said.
She observed that unfair or skewed reporting on corruption related cases erodes public confidence on the institutions charged with the huge responsibility.
Mworia also urged the media to guard against projecting law enforcement agencies as failed institutions since doing so really frustrated them.
The EACC Deputy Director said the media being one of the most influential organizations should help intensify the fight against the corrupt and prevent such people from infiltrating their profession. “Let us not raise the profile of unethical and corrupt leaders in our society,” she pleaded.
Speaker after speaker took issue with those who refer to EACC as a moribund institution or toothless bull-dog urging such people to instead assist the commission in the war against the vice.
The forum was also addressed by the EACC Western Kenya Regional Manager, George Oira and the Commission’s Deputy Director in charge of Communication Officer, Lydia Manyasi.
The EACC has so far trained 596 Integrity Patrons in schools with a further 300,000 learners also benefitted with plans to scale it up throughout the country.
By Joseph Ouma
