Anti-graft body warns over wealth declaration
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has threatened to take legal action against counties that will not have gazetted procedures for wealth declaration.
EACC chair Eliud Wabukala said only public service boards from 19 counties have so far complied.
Counties were required to enact and gazette procedures for Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities by September 30, but EACC extended the deadline by one-month.
Counties that have not complied include Kwale, Samburu, Kisumu, Lamu, Trans Nzoia, Machakos, Narok, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, Mombasa, Vihiga, Nyandarua, West Pokot, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kisii and Narok.
Fundamental strategies
Wabukala said public officials are required to submit their biennial wealth declarations together with those of their spouses and children under the age of 18 years
“Financial declarations, disclosures by public officials, are one of the fundamental strategies employed by many countries around the world in the fight against corruption and the promotion of ethics and integrity within the public service. Failure to adhere to the requirements attracts a sentence of not less than one year,” he said.
Wabukala was addressing members of public service board from the coastal counties during a capacity building workshop on management yesterday.
He urged the boards to ensure all employees in their respective counties have filled wealth declaration statements between November 1 and December 31.
The former retired ACK Archbishop said the absence of administrative procedures would give public officers in counties leeways not to disclose.
He said endemic corruption had cost the country mega investments, adding that the vice was further compounded by erosion of values and broken moral fabric.
“We miss the good old days when foreigners treated Kenya with enthusiasm. Kenyans are now associated with corruption and this narrative needs to change,” he added.
