The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairperson, Archbishop Eliud Wabukala has attributed most corruption cases in the country to breach of procurement procedures.
However, Wabukala expressed optimism that with proper capacity building to players in the procurement chain and the rate at which corruption is being fought in all front, three years were enough to combat the vice.
Speaking during the opening of a weeklong training forum for County Governments on Corruption Prevention in Supply Chain Management on Monday , the Chairperson said that procurement should be a transparent and competitive process since most of the cases in courts cite breach of procurement procedures.
He said the Commission has embarked on preventing corruption, which he noted is better than chasing the people who have already stolen.
Wabukala said the trainings will upscale delivery of services with integrity as well as mainstream efficient procurement laws to avert mismanagement of public funds.
The Chairperson reiterated that training personnel in the supply chain will go a long way in strengthening the fight against graft as those involved will be well informed considering they handle over 40 percent of county resources.
“Mainstreaming ethics is key since integrity is inbuilt and with firm knowledge of the laws, these procurement officers will be able to abide by the procurement processes and overcome the pressures including from their Governors,” he stressed.
Wabukala observed that all charge sheets in corruption cases read procurement breach effected by bribes, fraud, nepotism, lack of accountability and transparency including vested interests.
The Chair called on procurement entities to embrace the values of humility, compassion and fairness.
“Due to corruption children have gone without education, hospitals lack medicine, roads are constructed shoddily,” said Wabukala.
He pleaded with the first batch of trainees from 23 counties to be ambassadors of integrity at their counties to help fight graft.
By Joseph Kamolo
