The nation's anti-graft agency has taken its fight against corruption to Garissa County, launching a grassroots campaign to embed integrity in public service and daily life. The move by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) signals a proactive shift towards preventing graft before it takes root.

This initiative comes as Kenya continues to grapple with significant corruption challenges. The country scored 32 out of 100 in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, a figure below the global average of 43 and indicative of serious public sector corruption. For the residents of Garissa, this campaign is about ensuring that devolved funds translate into tangible services—better roads, equipped hospitals, and a secure future—rather than being lost to graft, a persistent challenge in many counties since the advent of devolution.

A Two-Pronged Attack on Graft

Led by the Deputy Director for Education and Public Awareness, Emily Mworia, the EACC is employing a dual strategy. The commission is engaging directly with public servants while also focusing on shaping the values of the next generation of leaders. This approach is part of a broader national strategy to mobilize citizens and institutions through education and capacity-building.

A key meeting was held with Garissa County Commissioner Mohammed Mwabudzo, who affirmed his administration's commitment to collaborating with the EACC to strengthen ethical systems. This partnership is crucial, as reports from the Auditor-General have previously flagged irregularities in the county's financial management, including issues with payments and stalled projects.

The EACC's outreach programme aims to achieve several key objectives:

• To foster a culture of transparency and accountability in public and private spheres.
• To sensitise citizens and public officers on effective corruption prevention methods.
• To strengthen partnerships between national and county-level institutions to advance good governance.
• To nurture ethical leadership by engaging with higher education institutions like Garissa University.

Beyond Arrests: Cultivating a Culture of Integrity

At a forum at Garissa University, Mworia emphasized that the fight against corruption is won not just in courtrooms, but also in the offices where resources are allocated and in classrooms where values are shaped. This educational mandate is a core pillar of the EACC's 2023-2028 strategic plan, which aims to eradicate corruption by tackling its root causes, including moral and ethical failures.

The engagement at the Garissa Huduma Centre further aimed to empower ordinary citizens, sensitising them on how to report corruption and demand transparent service delivery. This public mobilisation is vital for building a society where integrity is the norm, not the exception.

As the week-long programme unfolds, the true test will be whether these seeds of integrity take root in Garissa, fostering a new chapter of accountability and ensuring public resources genuinely serve the people.