EACC: We will collaborate with the youth to develop a culture of integrity, ethics, and good use of public resources

10:12:2024: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is working on an anti-corruption legal and policy advocacy framework through which young people can champion laws, regulations, and policies in both the corporate and public space that will enhance good governance, the Commission’s Chairperson, Dr. David Oginde, has said.

Dr. Oginde (pictured above) was giving a keynote address yesterday during the commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) at Strathmore University. IACD has been observed annually on December 9 since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on 31 October 2003 to raise public awareness for anti-corruption. In Kenya, it is organized by EACC in partnership with the Kenya Leadership Integrity Forum (KLIF).

This year’s IACD theme, ‘Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity,’ focused on empowering young people as key drivers in the fight against corruption. The commemoration brought together participants from diverse sectors, development partners, the public, and especially the youth whose associations were represented by leaders from the Ethics Ambassadors Network, Kenya Young Parliamentarian Association, SOS Children’s Villages, the University of Nairobi, and Strathmore University.

The fight against corruption, Dr. Oginde said, is a fight for justice, good governance, and the future of our country. He said young people have the energy, creativity, and passion that, if channeled correctly, could bring down the giant of corruption.

In undertaking its mandate, the Chairperson said the Commission wants to collaborate with all stakeholders in learning institutions and all other places where they are found to develop a culture of integrity, ethics, and good use of public resources.

“We have established several measures to help educate our young people. We have school outreach programmes targeting institutions of learning at all levels to help our young people begin to develop a culture of integrity. We have established integrity clubs to promote values and ethics and develop attitudes of honesty, service, ethics, and moral conduct among young people. The Commission has participated in developing curricula that can entrench ethics and integrity within our education sector. If taken seriously, these measures could help us move in the direction we need to go,” he said.

Corruption, he said, starts at a personal level. It is, therefore, a choice you make that you want to be ethical in your conduct when you are still young. He urged everyone to develop a personal moral conscience, an internal sense of right and wrong, so you do not need a police officer, a parent, or EACC to distinguish what is bad for you.

He also urged the youth to develop a personal moral identity and shun group mentality. Your moral identity, he said, can be founded on the guidance of your parents, teachers, or God, which then becomes a stand that guides what you do when in an ethical dilemma.

The Chairperson, who was the guest of honor at the commemoration, also challenged the youth to refuse to participate in corrupt activities like cheating in exams, acquiring fake certificates, bribing for jobs, or selling their bodies for favors.

He called upon them to whistle-blow on corruption, share innovative ideas to help combat it in the face of technological advancement, and get off the fence and participate in governance processes.

The Commission’s CEO designate also addressed the occasion. Mr. Abdi Mohamud Ahmed pledged to ramp up partnerships with the youth and other key stakeholders in the fight against corruption.

“Partnership with the youth, in our assessment, is very critical in the fight against corruption. As we move forward into next year, as a Commission, partnership with the youth and other stakeholders in the fight against corruption will be critical and key in the activities we will be undertaking,” he said.

Mr. Ahmed called on the youth to practice their aspirations into adulthood and not change after acquiring leadership positions.

Also present at the commemorations were the Vice Chancellor Strathmore University, Dr. Vincent Ogutu, CEO National Youth Council, Gloria Wawira, Executive Director Transparency International – Kenya, Sheila Masinde, Director International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Maureen Mimnaugh, Regional Representative UNODC, Ashita Mittal, British High Commissioner to Kenya, H.E. Neil Wigan, and H.E Ambassador Henriette Geiger, European Union Ambassador to Kenya.