THE ETHICS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE SECRETARY/CEO, ETHICS AND ANTI- CORRUPTION COMMISSION DURING THE PUBLIC BARAZA OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION WEEK PROGRAMME IN BUSIA COUNTY AT BUSIA AGRICULTURAL TRAINING CENTRE (ATC) ON 17 TH JUNE, 2016. 1
The Governor, Busia County, Hon. Sospeter Ojaamong Deputy Governor, Busia County, Hon.Kizito Wangalwa Speaker, Busia County Assembly, Hon.Benard Wamalwa County Secretary, Busia County County Commissioner, Busia County, Mr.Mongo Chimwaga County Executive Committee Members County Officials Imams Present Church Leaders Officers from the EACC Local leaders Members of the public All protocol observed 2
Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great privilege to be here today. I am indeed pleased to join you as we mark the end of the Anti-corruption Week Programme in Busia County. This is a very important day for the residents of this region. I wish to welcome you all to this Public Baraza. Ladies and Gentlemen As you are aware, the Commission has been in this county to engage the public on issues of leadership, integrity and anti-corruption since Monday 13 th June 2016. Today is the last day of the programme. This is part of the programme of the Commission to reach out to counties and provide them the necessary support to combat and prevent corruption. The Commission has been to undertake a similar programme 3
in, Isiolo, Kilifi, Kwale, Laikipia, Tharaka Nithi among other Counties. Our intention is to reach out to all counties in the shortest time possible. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Commission has taken the fight against corruption a notch higher in the country and more particularly in the Counties. Now I have come to Busia with a very simple message, let us all join hands in the fight against corruption. You note that the County Governments Act, 2012 emphasises that: A county shall deliver services while observing the principles of equity, efficiency, accessibility, non-discrimination, transparency, accountability, sharing of data and information, and subsidiarity. I am also aware that the County government of Busia has a Development Plan, 2013 which it is implementing to ensure that the 4
county achieves higher levels of development, poverty reduction, improved governance and better welfare for the people of Busia County. The Anti-corruption week programme has been very successful. We have managed to undertake the following; 1) Conducted public outreach across the county for which we were able to visit 40 markets and shopping centres across the county and reached an approximately 400,000 residents; 2) During the outreach we, received 62 reports of allegations of corruption touching on various areas as follows: a. 14 reports on Embezzlement/misappropriation of public funds b. 1 impersonating EACC officers 5
c. 9 Civil and Land matters d. 2 Public Procurement irregularities e. 17 on Bribery and Police harassment f. 6 on Maladministration g. 5 on school mismanagement h. 2 on abuse of office i. 1 Human rights abuse j. 5 on CDF matters 3) We trained 46 Members of the County Assembly of Busia on leadership and integrity; 4) Trained 70 public officers of the National Government on ethics, integrity and anti-corruption; 6
5) Conducted Corruption Risk Assessments in various departments of the County Government of Busia and the County Assembly to identity risks and loopholes in the systems and procedures of work and recommend measures to mitigate the loopholes; 6) Disseminated 8,500 IEC materials; and 7) In addition we managed to visit 10 learning institutions across the county to inculcate values among the youth besides imparting knowledge and skills on ethics, integrity and anti-corruption to school managers. A total of 5,327 students and 194 teachers were reached through this programme.the schools were urged to establish Integrity Clubs with the guidance of the Commission. 7
Today we, as a Commission, will sign action plans with both the county government and the county assembly to actualize anti-corruption activities and ensure that the county remains committed to combating and preventing corruption in all areas. I am confident that the county government will seize this opportunity to move forward the anticorruption agenda for the county. Fellow Kenyans, I urge you to be active and put the county government in check as it implements the action plan we shall commit to today. In this way, you shall be able to participate effectively in the way affairs of the county are being managed. So, may I therefore call upon you to be ambassadors in the fight against corruption. 8
Ladies and Gentlemen, I also wish to inform you that by being a person of integrity, you are making a major contribution in the fight against corruption. It is your character and morals that influence the people around you and the society at large. We become role models in society by not engaging in corrupt practices and acting on corruption decisively. In this way, we can question the integrity of others, especially those we elect as leaders, and also name and shame the corrupt regardless of whether they are our kin or the high and mighty. Fellow Kenyans, 9
In conclusion, I wish to thank you for being part of this important event. As you go back to your duties, it is my hope that you will reflect on the issues we have shared here today and during the anti-corruption week, noting that you have an important role to play as an individual, as a Community, and as a county in the fight against corruption. I also wish to inform you that we have our Western regional office in Kisumu based at Jubilee Insurance House 3 rd Floor. In the meantime, this office will serve six counties namely; Busia, Vihiga, Kakamega, Bungoma, Siaya and Kisumu as we plan to progressively and eventually devolve our functions to all Counties in Kenya. May I take this opportunity to encourage you to report all forms of corruption to the 10
office and use it to engage us on any matter pertaining to corruption. The Corruption Reporting Hotline for the Office 0715-408512. Asante Sana! Mwenyezi Mungu awabariki. SECRETARY/CEO ETHICS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION. CHIEF GUEST PROCEEDS TO SIGN ACTION PLAN WITH THE SPEAKER OF THE COUNTY ASSEMBLY AND THEN WITH THE COUNTY GOVERNOR. 11