Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged anti-corruption agencies to strengthen their preventive efforts in the fight against graft.
Mudavadi made his remarks during the launch of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), strategic plan 2023-28 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi on Tuesday.
The plan, the commission said, outlines revamped strategies for the execution of its mandate for five years.
“It is guided by various factors including current corruption trends and patterns as well as the lessons learnt so far,” EACC said.
He emphasized that corruption poses a significant threat to the aspirations of the Kenyan people and it is important for anticorruption agencies to step up their efforts.
“Kenyans have been asking themselves why corruption thrives despite the taxpayer footing the bills of many anti-corruption agencies,” he said.
Mudavadi pointed out that research indicates how corruption hampers development and service delivery by diverting public resources to personal gain.
“Research indicates that corruption undermines development and service delivery by diverting development resources to the personal gain of a few individuals," Mudavadi said.
"Loss of tax revenue, increasing the cost of doing business and therefore deterring investments, distorting public expenditure and reducing economic efficiency thus slowing down administrative processes."
Mudavadi lamented that corruption continues to impede the anticipated economic progress of the country.
He revealed his personal experience with corruption in the establishment of the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, highlighting its harmful effects.
“I confidently speak to this because I have been a victim of this maleficence in the setting up of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary,” he said.
He pointed out that corruption has led to the downfall of governments and has ruined the careers of world-renowned public figures.
Mudavadi also urged the Judiciary to expedite the hearings of corruption-related cases to ensure swift justice.
The Prime Cabinet acknowledged the National Police Service and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) saying that they have played a crucial role in the fight against corruption.
“I urge the newly appointed Director of Public Prosecutions to embark on this responsibility with zeal, recognising that the promptness and quality of prosecutions wield a direct impact in our pursuit of justice, and purgation of corruption,” Mudavadi said.
