The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has embarked on an awareness campaign targeting university students across the country.
The drive is aimed at instilling integrity, discipline and accountability in young Kenyans as they prepare to join the job market, ahead of the World Anti-corruption Day set to be held on December 9.
Speaking at the Kirinyaga University, EACC vice chairperson Monica Muiru said the initiative promotes integrity among students and encourages them to combat corruption.
The drive includes interactive sessions between officials from the commission, students and stakeholders.
Muiru noted that other than enforcing the law by arresting and prosecuting the corrupt, the commission is also investing in corruption prevention mechanisms for a corrupt-free society.
The students however took the commission to task over the many graft scandals highlighted in the media, demanding answers on what actions have been taken against culprits.
“Graft has become the norm. We were born into it but with the rising graft incidences, we have seen the evidence of rising disquiet among the citizenry,” a student said during the plenary session.
The learners also expressed concern over the long time taken to conclude court cases on corruption, allowing suspects to continue living their normal lives and perpetrate more graft.
They urged the commission to consider incorporating them in their campaigns, noting that they are fearless and have the capacity to use the social media to create awareness.
But Muiru also challenged the learners to use technology and come up with innovations that can help fight graft more easily by easing reporting of graft incidences and follow-ups.
She noted that with the digital innovations such as cryptocurrency, there’s a need to establish ways of dealing with corruption in the digital space.
“These discussions are vital. We have heard you and will be working with you to fight corruption so we can made bigger strides in fighting the menace,” she said.
She said rampant corruption affects young Kenyans, make it difficult for them to acquire jobs and establish their livelihoods, and encouraged them to ensure they report incidences anonymously through the commission’s website.
Muriu emphasised that fighting graft starts at the individual level and that the responsibility cannot be shouldered by the commission alone.
She said such awareness activities are conducted routinely to ensure members of the society understand the role they play in eradicating the vice, noting that a similar exercise will be conducted at Egerton University.
Kirinyaga University chancellor Prof Mary Ndung’u challenged students to ensure they work hard and sit on their exams without cheating as the first step to fighting corruption.
“These are the small steps that you can take in your daily lives to fight corruotpin and make the society better,” she said.
by ALICE WAITHERA
