The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has raised alarms over a disturbing trend in which public officials use their family members to embezzle public funds. In its 2023/24 annual report, the Commission revealed that individuals in positions of power have been enlisting their children, spouses, and other relatives as intermediaries to siphon money from government contracts.
Chairperson David Oginde condemned the practice, emphasizing that it erodes the integrity of families, which should play a crucial role in promoting ethical conduct. “We have noticed an alarming trend where public officials enlist their children, spouses, and other family members as proxies to siphon public funds. They establish fake companies to bid for government contracts and funnel the money into private accounts,” Oginde explained.
The EACC further warned that such corrupt activities often have severe consequences for the entire family, stating, “The unfortunate reality is that when the law catches up, entire families have been arrested, which is not a good look.”
In addition to addressing this rising issue, the EACC’s annual report highlighted the Commission’s success in asset recovery. During the 2023/24 financial year, the EACC successfully reclaimed assets worth Ksh2.9 billion through 11 proactive investigations. It also filed 47 new lawsuits aimed at recovering assets valued at Ksh9.2 billion.
The report also detailed the Commission’s handling of 5,171 corruption reports. Of these, 2,207 fell within its jurisdiction, with 42% involving bribery, 13% related to embezzlement or misappropriation of public funds, and 22% linked to other offenses.
Furthermore, the EACC conducted 145 random and targeted integrity tests across various public institutions. Unfortunately, 130 officers failed the tests, while five passed and 10 results were inconclusive. The Commission recommended administrative action for those who failed, and cases meeting criminal thresholds were referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
