EACC says IEBC cleared people with integrity issues to vie

Sophia Lepuchirit.

EACC Vice-chairperson Sophia Lepuchirit.

Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • Ms Lepuchirit said EACC did its part in raising concerns but quickly added that the IEBC is also an independent body.
  • She cited the procurement department as the hardest hit by graft issues with a number of officers having pending court cases.
  • She said executives in charge of finance were the major culprits in misappropriation of funds in counties.

At least 106 candidates, including governors with integrity queries, were cleared to run for various seats during the August 8 General Election, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has disclosed.

The anti-graft agency further disclosed that more than 60 county officials, including governors, had appeared before court in the various stages of prosecution.

“We have one governor with 29 of his officials in court for abuse of office,” said the EACC vice-chairperson, Ms Sophia Lepuchirit.

In her address Thursday to senators during their induction workshop at Simba Lodge in Naivasha, Ms Lepuchirit said some of the candidates who were facing integrity queries were elected for the August 8 polls.

She said a majority of the candidates who were cleared were eyeing parliamentary seats while others were running for governorship, senate and county assembly seats.

“They were cleared to run by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission despite us having raised integrity issues,” said the EACC vice- chairperson.

RAISED CONCERNS

Ms Lepuchirit said EACC did its part in raising concerns but quickly added that the IEBC is also an independent body.

She cited the procurement department as the hardest hit by graft issues with a number of officers having pending court cases.

The EACC vice-chairperson said executives in charge of finance were the major culprits in misappropriation of funds in counties.

“We have in some cases the entire procurement (department) in court and this is the route we want to take,” said Ms Lepuchirit.

The commissioner highlighted some of the agency’s achievements, including 17 successful convictions in cases touching on procurement.

She hailed the Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (Ifmis), saying the technology had assisted in the fight against graft in the devolved system of governance.

Ms Lepuchirit called for closer collaboration with various agencies in the fight against corruption and in slaying the graft dragon.

She said EACC had recruited 400 staff with the number increasing to 750 which will help in speeding up cases before the anti-graft body.