Kenya joined the rest of the continent on Monday, July 13, 2026, to commemorate African Anti-Corruption Day, with a resounding call to move past political rhetoric and scale up practical, enforceable measures against graft.
The national event, hosted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) at the Integrity Centre in Nairobi, brought together top government officials, security chiefs, legal minds, and industry leaders under the continental theme: "Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa."
The unity of purpose was visibly captured at the briefing podium, where EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud led a multi-agency delegation.
Standing alongside key stakeholders including EACC chairperson David Oginde, senior commission officials, and security leadership represented by Administration Police Service Commandant and acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli the commission demonstrated a collaborative front in tackling institutional misconduct.
Speaking during the commemoration, Oginde emphasised that corruption remains the single greatest bottleneck to Kenya’s economic growth and public service delivery.
He noted that while commitments are regularly made on paper, the true test lies in transforming these policies into visible accountability, urging leaders to translate anti-corruption commitments into practical action that restores public confidence.
Supporting his sentiments, EACC chief executive officer Abdi Mohamud highlighted the commission’s ongoing strategies to seal institutional loopholes, emphasising that collaborative efforts between anti-graft agencies, the police service under IG Masengeli, and the public are vital to dismantling cartels that continuously siphon public resources.
From the infrastructure sector, Maurice Aketch, the Executive Director and CEO of the National Construction Authority (NCA), addressed the high risks of corruption within public procurement and development projects.
He emphasised that building a corrupt-free nation requires institutional integrity, particularly in sectors that command multi-billion-shilling public budgets.
“Let’s inculcate a culture of integrity and anti-corruption to ensure that the services we offer are safe, have no bias and there is trust in what we do,”Aketch said.
The commemoration comes at a critical time when public outcry over accountability is at an all-time high.
The EACC used the forum to rally all stakeholders including civil society, law enforcement, the private sector, and ordinary citizens under their national clarion call, "Tuangamize Ufisadi, Tuijenge Kenya" (Destroy Corruption, Build Kenya).
With visual presentations and banners underscoring the continental push for transparency, the 2026 African Anti-Corruption Day served as a firm reminder that Africa's progress depends heavily on the integrity of its leadership and institutions.
