Anti-Corruption Week to Entrench Ethics in Siaya County

13^th May 2019: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is this week focusing on Siaya County. It has launched an Anti-Corruption Week programme which it hopes to roll out to all the sub-counties to sensitise members of the public on ethics and rally their support for the war on graft.

The launch was marked by the flagging off of a caravan at Agricultural Training Centre in Siaya town. The programme was officially launched by Commission’s Vice-Chair, Ms. Sophia Lepuchrit accompanied by County Governor Cornel Rasanga, marked by flagging off of a Caravan at Agricultural Training Centre in Siaya town.

The other activities lined up during the week include training sessions on ethics and integrity for Public Officers from National Government agencies, County Government Officials, Members of County Assembly and other officials. The Commission is also targeting pupils and students in select schools within the county. The school outreach programmes are designed to create awareness of integrity and ethics among the youth so as to nurture and build good character and behavior to bring up responsible and ethical citizens.

School managements, teachers and students will be advised on the best ways to promote integrity and other values, and encouraged to establish Integrity Clubs.

The anti-corruption week will culminate in a public baraza set to be held at Ahindi Gardens on Friday 17, May, 2019. The baraza will give stakeholders an opportunity to engage with the county leadership on the best ways to address graft issues and unethical practices. The county leadership is also expected to sign a commitment with EACC on corruption prevention.

Speaking during the launch, Commissioner Lepuchrit warned that action would be taken against those who contravened the provisions of Chapter 6 of the Constitution and cautioned against misappropriation of public resources.

“As you know, corruption poses a serious risk to the development agenda both in the counties and national government,” she said, adding that” the theft and misuse of public resources drains our otherwise rich country of its resources, leaving a trail of destruction, affecting all of us.

She urged all stakeholders to play their role in the graft fight and thanked the county leadership for supporting the programme.

The Commission has conducted similar outreach programmes in more than 15 counties since the establishment of counties and plans to eventually cover all the 47 counties.