EACC Rides On Bodaboda Network to Promote Anti-Graft Campaign

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission(EACC) has been rolling out a targeted public engagement strategy as it seeks to promote wider participation in its sensitization programmes against corruption. The strategy is in line with Article 13 of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC, 2003) which requires states to draw in groups outside the public sector such as civil society, non-governmental and community-based organizations, youth and women’s groups, and faith-based organizations.

In rolling out its strategy, the Commission was guided by the findings of a survey it conducted in 2018, which ranked Kisii County 9th (at 52.0%), Homabay 10^th (at 51.9%) and Nyamira 11th (at 46.2%) in the levels of bribery payments. The National Survey on Ethics and Corruption also indicated that 56.6% and 55.3% of the people in Kisii and Migori counties respectively paid bribes because that was the only way to access services from public offices.

The Commission then identified the boda boda sector as its key stakeholder in the sensitization campaign in these counties due to its grassroots nature and immense contribution to the national economy. The campaign was conducted by officers from the Commission, the National Transport and Safety Authority(NTSA) and Traffic Police. It consisted of open-day public outreaches for the boda-boda riders and the general public and a half-day training for each county’s Boda-boda officials.

The Commission also disseminated assorted information and communication materials on anti-corruption and ethics. In partnership with Royal Media Services, the Commission undertook a one-week radio promotion programme targeting the public, boda-boda business networks, the local communities, law enforcers and regulators. The programme, which was also disseminated through local TV and FM stations, reached an audience of more than six million.

The campaign sought to achieve the following objectives:

• Engage boda-boda operators and networks as key stakeholders in corruption prevention and promotion of integrity.
• Enlist the support of the general public in the prevention of corruption and promotion of integrity.

The campaign also expected the following outcomes:

• Improved levels of awareness on corruption and ethics;
• Improved levels of corruption reporting;
• Improved level of corruption intolerance, and
• Increased support by the public in the fight against corruption.