EACC taps varsity clubs to entrench integrity and fight corruption

If you learned right from wrong at an age when you could reason and think about the society you want, would it stick?

Does it stick in sunday school?

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has partnered with universities in Nyanza to entrench integrity and enhance war on graft in society.

Through Nyanza universities integrity clubs, the anti-graft crusader said the initiative will enable it to inculcate good morals and ethical behaviour among young Kenyans.

The programme, it is hoped, will see universities produce graduates with high integrity and discipline as they seek employment and leadership.

EACC, as the agency responsible for fighting graft, has faced challenges in eradicating the vice despite the awareness campaigns it has mounted in the country.

With the idea of modelling leaders of integrity through university integrity clubs, the anti-graft agency plans to discipline students so they do not engage in practices that are likely to fuel corruption.

EACC  director of preventive services Vincent Okong’o said the conference is one of the many they will hold in various parts of the country to help fight graft.

“We’re keen on the partnership because employment industries get professionals from universities. They will become professionals with integrity if we start as early as now,” Okong’o said.

Speaking during a two-day meeting with seven universities in Nyanza region at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay town, Okong’o said they are giving the fight against corruption a different approach by ensuring students are moulded to become leaders with integrity in the future.

EACC came up with the idea after a survey it conducted and released in December last year.

The survey indicated that corruption is still a thorn in the flesh among professionals and there was need to inculcate good values and morals in students when they are still in schools.

“The society we have depends on the way we’re brought up. Leaders will demonstrate and have integrity if they complied with ethical values at their youthful age,” he added.

During the conference, it was revealed that the initiative may not have an immediate impact but its benefits may be realised in future and reduce graft cases.

According to the EACC, the initiative will help reduce arson attacks and strikes in institutions of higher learning.

The universities incorporated are Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Rongo University, Kisii University, Maseno University, Uzima University and Great Lakes University of Kisumu.

JOOUST vice chancellor Prof Stephen Agong and his Rongo counterpart Prof Samuel Gudu proposed the introduction of integrity lessons in the curriculum.

Agong said cultural change is needed to promote ethics and fight corruption.

He said integrity should be embedded in people when they are young so that they become responsible leaders in the society.

“The conference is important because it reminds us when we should start modeling leaders. Integrity is a behaviour which should be entrenched in people when they are young,” Agong said.

He said that lack of integrity is the reason why some students graduate but are unable to do research, innovate or write proposals.

Gudu said through those clubs youths, especially learners, have gotten an opportunity to change their minds.

“This will enable the EACC to improve its fight against corruption. Let students who have joined the club be ambassadors of integrity,”Gudu said.

Homa Bay county commissioner Moses Lilan and the county secretary Bernard Muok who attended the conference said corruption is a global phenomenon that promotes violence and impedes development.

(Edited by V. Graham)