The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered over Sh. 25 billion worth of ill-gotten assets in the last five years through enhanced efforts in combating the scourge of corruption in the country.
EACC vice Chair, Sophia Lepuchirit, said the Commission has also secured 169 convictions out of 257 cases presented to courts in same period which she termed as a great stride in containing the vice.
Lepuchirit said that the Commission has also secured over Sh30.4 billion of public funds through sustained disruptions of the vice over the same period.
The Vice Chair also noted that with the support of the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, the Commission is in pursuit of more than Sh 25.5 billion of ill- gotten assets held by different individuals in the Country.
She added that the Commission has successfully undertaken system reviews in 15 ministries and in 20 counties in a move aimed at sealing the loopholes which the corrupt exploit.
In an address to media practitioners from Nakuru County at the Great Rift Valley Lodge, Lepuchirit challenged the scribes to take lead in the fight against corruption, noting that the vice tops the list of major challenges facing the country at 49.4 per cent in a survey conducted by the Commission.
Lepuchirit, however, regretted that 67 per cent of Kenyans do nothing in the fight against corruption and unethical conduct with only 5.8 per cent reporting incidences of corruption.
Lepuchirit said that the media, therefore, has an important role in the fight against graft as it is well placed to demand accountability and transparency from the public and the private sector.
“This training is part of the efforts of the Commission to entrench an ethical culture, integrity and professionalism in the media industry in line with the requirements of our Constitution,” said Lepuchirit.
The Commissioner added that the training is also a significant stride in building a more reliable symbiotic relationship between the media and the mainstream anti-corruption agencies which is in tandem with the government anti-corruption agenda.
Lepuchirit at the same time called the practitioners to uphold ethical standards devoid of unethical practices such as favouritism, bribery, the “brown envelope” appetite and unbalanced reporting which injure the quality of reports.
The two-day training workshop is being conducted in collaboration with the Media Council of Kenya and International Development Law Organization (IDLO).
Media Council of Kenya Head of Media Development and Strategy, Victor Bwire, challenged the scribes to be bold and undertake investigative stories which unearths rot in government institutions.
Bwire said that journalist should strive to undertake stories without fear or favor, noting that a section of journalists have been compromised to undermine the quality of their stories.
Bwire said that Council will continue to conduct trainings that impart knowledge on ethical journalism standards that build the capacity of media practitioners around the country.
He said that the media must take lead in the crusade against corruption, underdevelopment, diseases as well as the promotion of democracy and human rights.
By Erastus Gichohi
