Integrity Club Takes Root At Archbishop Wabukala School

EACC Chairman Retired Archbishop Eliud Wabukala addressing participants at the launch of an Integrity Club at Archbishop Eliud Wabukala ACK Malakisi Secondary School in Bungoma County in western Kenya.

“Corruption remains a serious impediment to societal progress in all spheres; whether social, economic or political. It leads to increased poverty, slow rate of economic growth, poor infrastructure, low quality of education and poor health, among other problems.” These are the words of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairman, Retired Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, during the launch of an Integrity Club at Archbishop Wabukala Secondary School in Bungoma County.

The school is among the few in the county to establish the Club through the initiative of the Commission. The clubs aim to inculcate values among the youth as a way of enhancing responsible citizenship and promoting intolerance to corruption and unethical conduct.

The EACC Chair assured the public of the enhanced efforts and collaborations among public institutions to bring to book corruption perpetrators, noting that  the attainment of the national goals was dependent on sound management of national resources.  He therefore called on all public officers to uphold public interest and commit themselves to selfless service delivery.

He pointed out that the war against corruption requires the collective efforts of all sectors, leaders, public officers, and the public, including students. “The youth, as we know, are creative, talented, energetic and agile and can utilize their abilities to drive positive societal change,” he added.

The Commission, in exercise of its preventive and public awareness mandate, is steering the establishment of the clubs in schools having recognized the contribution made by young people in the fight against corruption. It is also, in partnership with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), involved in reviewing the school curriculum to introduce integrity values as a teaching component.

While unveiling the plaque to launch the club, the Archbishop (Rtd) assured the students of the Commission’s commitment to support of the club to ensure its growth and sustainability, noting that it will provide a good environment for sharing and learning as well as solving ethical dilemmas facing the students. He encouraged the students to join, support the club and become ambassadors of integrity in the school.

Speaking during the launch, EACC Deputy Chief Executive Officer Michael Mubea urged parents to instill good morals and integrity in their children. “As we emphasize on educating our children, let’s also emphasize the need to instill integrity in them,” he said

He noted that corruption continued to have a bad impact especially in the developing countries with vulnerable groups such as women, children, the physically impaired, the elderly and the poor being the most affected and lacking in basic social services. He also called on the public to report all forms of corruption, noting that the Commission was in the process of opening a regional office in Bungoma to bring services closer to the people.

Also present were Commissioner Dr. Dabar, who emphasized the need to inculcate values in the youth through Integrity Clubs for the betterment of the nation, Bungoma County Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, who urged students to embrace integrity and ethics in their daily activities and more so in their exams. At the same time, the Governor extolled the Commission’s efforts to promote integrity and awareness of the ills of corruption in young learners at an early age, and for choosing his county for the noble course.