EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud with KEG President Zubeida Kananu and other officials following the signing of an MoU between the organisations during the 8th annual KEG meeting in Kilifi on November 28, 2025/EACCThe Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Kenya Editors’ Guild (KEG) to strengthen collaboration with the media in the fight against corruption.
The MoU, signed on Friday, during the Guild’s annual convention in Kilifi, formalises the ongoing engagements between EACC and the media.
Speaking during the convention, EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud announced plans for more structured engagements, training and capacity-building programs to deepen cooperation between the Commission and journalists.
Mohamud noted that the media remains a crucial partner in shaping public debate, exposing wrongdoing and holding institutions accountable.
“The media acts as both a powerful ally and a vigilant watchdog,” he said.
“Strengthening our partnership is key to building a society grounded in honesty, fairness, and justice.”
EACC has been holding Press Clubs in collaboration with KEG to demystify the work of the Commission and elicit public support in the anti-corruption fight.
During one of the Press Clubs held earlier this year at Sarova Hotel, Nairobi, Mohamud emphasised that the fight against corruption cannot be won by EACC alone and urged the media to remain proactive in exposing wrongdoing.
“I invite the media to work closely with us. Together, we can ensure that corruption does not rob our nation of a bright future,” he said then.
Mohamud further underscored the media’s critical role in shaping public discourse and holding leaders accountable, calling for the formalisation of engagements with media stakeholders for more structured interventions.
So far, EACC has conducted five capacity-building workshops for journalists in Nyeri, Machakos, Nakuru, Kisumu and Mombasa, aimed at improving the accuracy of reporting and building public confidence in the anti-corruption effort.
During the signing of the MoU, Mohamud stated that the Commission has traced illegally acquired and unexplained assets worth Sh22.9 billion in the last financial year as part of intensified efforts to curb economic crimes.
The agency recovered an additional Sh3.4 billion and stopped the loss of Sh16.6 billion in public funds through proactive interventions.
He added that the commission had also concluded 175 investigation files involving corruption, economic crimes and ethical breaches, which were forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A total of 33 convictions were recorded during the period.
Mohamud said corruption remains one of the country’s most pressing challenges, citing findings from the National Ethics and Corruption Survey 2024, which identified unemployment, corruption, poverty and the high cost of living as top public concerns.
Bribery remains the most common unethical practice, followed by favouritism, abuse of office, tribalism, nepotism and embezzlement.
He told editors that effective collaboration between the media and anti-corruption agencies is essential in strengthening accountability systems and depriving corrupt individuals of the ability to enjoy illicit wealth.
“Following the money is a key anti-corruption approach whose main objective is to investigate, trace and recover proceeds of corruption and unexplained wealth," he said.
"The Kenya Editors Guild remains critical in setting the anti-corruption discourse and shaping how information is communicated to the public."
He said the media plays a significant role in raising public awareness on corruption, noting that radio, television and social media have been instrumental in spreading information, including EACC surveys and reports.
Mohamud added that both the commission and the media must guard their institutional independence to ensure accurate reporting and effective oversight.
He urged the development of structured ethical partnerships that promote transparency, integrity and accountability in public service.
The CEO outlined priority areas for cooperation, including exposing bribery at service points, regulating conflict of interest, safeguarding public resources from illicit acquisition, countering the misuse of cryptocurrency to hide corrupt proceeds and supporting investigative journalism.
“As we continue to collaborate in the fight against corruption, we must safeguard the freedom of the media to undertake its mandate," Mohamud said.
" The media should continue to raise awareness and report corruption issues in a manner that is accurate, fair, accountable, professional and transparent."
Mohamud reiterated that the fight against corruption cannot be tackled in isolation, urging collective action to uphold national values and protect public resources.
