Youth at the forefront as Kenya observes Anti-Corruption Day
CS for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Hon. Salim Mvurya, EGH, delivers the keynote address during the International Anti-Corruption Day commemoration at KICC
10:12:2025: Kenya yesterday joined the global community in commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day, with a national event led by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in partnership with the Kenya Leadership Integrity Forum (KLIF).
Held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), this year’s commemoration placed young people at the heart of the country’s anti-corruption agenda under the theme “Uniting with Youth Against Corruption – Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.”
The ceremony was graced by Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, the Creative Economy and Sports, Hon. Salim Mvurya, EGH, who served as Chief Guest. Also present were EACC Chairperson Dr. David Oginde, EACC CEO Mr. Abdi A. Mohamud, representatives from the private sector, media, development partners, and key government agencies, including Principal Secretary for Justice, Hon. Judith Pareno.
Youth at the Centre of the Fight
From the onset, speakers underscored the centrality of young people in shaping Kenya’s future governance landscape. With 75 percent of Kenya’s population comprising the youth, according to the Kenya Population and Development Conference 2025, leaders emphasized that any meaningful war against graft must intentionally include and empower this demographic.
The programme blended formal speeches with youth-led artistic expressions. Attendees watched a stirring floetry performance titled “Future Not Our Own”, compelling spoken word pieces, interactive experience-sharing sessions with young Kenyans, and an afternoon drama performance by JKUAT students.
EACC CEO: “Youth are not the problem — they are the solution”
In his remarks, EACC CEO Mr. Abdi Mohamud painted a candid picture of the country’s corruption landscape, pointing to both progress made and the challenges that persist.
The Commission, he noted, has intensified its enforcement and preventive measures. In the 2024/2025 financial year alone, EACC filed 79 new asset recovery cases, the highest in five years, targeting Kes4.8 billion in illicit assets. It also successfully recovered Kes3.4 billion, marking a steady improvement from the previous year. Additionally, 54 court cases were finalized, and convictions rose from 12 to 33.
On the preventive front, enhanced intelligence operations helped the Commission avert the loss of public assets worth Kes16.5 billion.
Yet, the CEO warned that corruption remains a daily assault on the dreams of young people. Referencing the 2024 National Ethics and Corruption Survey, he highlighted alarming bribery rates in education, employment, and financial aid services. Even more troubling, six out of ten young Kenyans reported they would accept a bribe if they believed they would not get caught.
“This is not because our youth lack morals,” Mohamud emphasized. “It is because they have witnessed a system that too often teaches them that integrity does not pay school fees and does not stop bribery at service points.”
He urged young people to reclaim their place as agents of change, affirming that EACC has expanded its youth-focused initiatives, ranging from joint media campaigns to integrity movements in universities, and recently signed an MoU with the National Youth Council to deepen collaboration.
EACC Chairperson: Youth are the architects of tomorrow
EACC Chairperson Dr Oginde echoed similar sentiments, commending Kenya’s vibrant, digital-savvy youth for their growing activism and courage in demanding accountability.
“Young people are not just beneficiaries of reform,” he said. “They are the engine of national transformation.”
He described corruption as a human decision; one that can be “unchosen”, and declared that the generation best placed to reverse this culture is the youth. Over the past year, the Commission has broadened engagements with students across universities and strengthened Adili Clubs in primary and secondary schools to nurture integrity from early ages.
Oginde called for a whole-of-society approach, emphasizing that no single institution can defeat corruption on its own. “When the youth rise to defend integrity, a country rises with them,” he stated.
Chief Guest: Government committed to youth-led integrity revolution
In his keynote address, Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya reaffirmed the government’s resolve to elevate youth participation in governance and strengthen integrity across public institutions.
Kenya, he said, holds a special place in global anti-corruption efforts, having been the first country to sign and ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption in 2003.
CS Mvurya highlighted several government initiatives that aim to empower young people while promoting transparency. These include the NYOTA Project, which uses digital platforms to enhance fairness in youth empowerment programs, and the Affordable Housing Programme, which is generating thousands of jobs for young artisans and professionals. He also pointed to the establishment of digital innovation hubs and enhanced labour mobility programmes as examples of government efforts to open new pathways of opportunity.
The CS, declaring the 2025 International Anti-Corruption Day commemorations officially open, urged the youth to transition from being “victims of corruption to powerful drivers of change,” emphasizing that their creativity and digital literacy position them at the forefront of accountability efforts.
Afternoon Dialogue and Closing Sessions
The afternoon featured an interactive panel discussion titled “Empowering the Next Generation to Lead with Integrity,” with youth panelists from EACC, the University of Nairobi, Tangaza University, and the Kenya Disability Parliamentary Association.
The PS for the State Department for Youth Affairs & Creative Economy, Mr. Fikirini Jacobs Kahindi gave an inspirational talk on the need to embrace an ethical mindset and why integrity matters.
Creative presentations, including spoken word, drama, and skits, continued to underscore the day’s message. The event closed with an Integrity Pledge recited by all participants. Commissioner Dr. Cecilia Mutuku delivered the vote of thanks.
As the curtains fell, one resounding message lingered: Kenya’s war against corruption will be won not by institutions alone, but by a new generation determined to build a fairer, more accountable nation.
