Corruption cases have increased like never before since the inception of devolution, the EACC has said.
Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo disclosed,
in a statement read on his behalf by Ben Murei, that they were
investigating 1,066 cases from counties.
Murei is the commission's new Western region coordinator.
Waqo regretted that county officers have "devolved corruption" yet the aim was equitable distribution of resources.
“Apart from the 1,066 corruption cases, we have 187 cases related to unethical conduct that arose in 2015-16 alone,” he said.
Waqo pointed out that some of the cases at the county and national government levels were being facilitated by elected leaders.
“The EACC is set to put in place a framework for ensuring only people of integrity are elected into leadership positions during the general election,” he said.
His statement was read
at the Siaya county assembly
on Tuesday
during a
two-day leadership and integrity training for the 48 MCAs.
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In a report last week, the Senate demanded the arrest of the governors of
Kiambu, Busia, Tana River, Trans Nzoia, Nyandarua, Migori, Kwale, Kisumu, Samburu and Kericho counties for misappropriation of public funds.
Waqo said the commission
had sent a team of investigative officers
to look into the allegations against the governors.
The files of those found culpable will be forwarded to the DPP for prosecution, he said, adding they will demonstrate support for devolution by inculcating
good governance, transparency and accountability among county leaders.
Waqo faulted the Siaya Public Service Board for failing to publish their leadership and integrity code in the Kenya gazette.
The CEO noted that this indicated that none of the officers in the county's assembly had complied with the legal requirements on leadership and integrity.
The move, he warned, may negatively affect members seeking elective positions in the August 8 poll.
The anti-corruption boss said they will arrest and
prosecute all county officials found guilty of misusing public funds before the end of the year.
Siaya Speaker George Okode praised the EACC for accepting the invitation to train ward representatives on integrity.
“This will go a long way in boosting the confidence and dignity of the
members,” said Okode
He added that the assembly
will also invite the IEBC to educate the MCAs on the do and don’ts of the August 8 general election.
Murei
defended the commission's progress on cases saying it had taken to court 424 cases involving 891 public officers.
He added that the commission was behind 18 convictions in 2015-16 and said the number was likely to increase.
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