Bishop Oginde's proposal on how long corruption cases should take to be determined

By Peter Ochieng 

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chairman Bishop David Oginde is concerned that corruption related cases are taking a long time, before being determined.

Speaking in Mombasa during the release of a report touching on the state of corruption in counties in the 10 years of devolution, Bishop Oginde said graft cases drag on for up to 15 years.

He said that does not augur well with agencies involved in the fight against the vice.

In his view, the cases should be done and dusted between 6 months to one year, so that suspects have no time to enjoy proceeds of graft.

“Corruption cases especially the big ones drag for 10-15 years, some even 20 years, already these people have enjoyed what they stole while in leadership positions," he said.

"Some have served and retired, we are lobbying so that these cases are heard and determined fast as possible, 6 months at most 1 year so that if the person is clean, they’re released to serve the nation...if he is dirty let them be removed from where they are to where they belong.”

Concerning corruption in the 47 counties, the EACC report states that most prevalent malpractices in the devolved units are embezzlement of public funds, conflict of interest, procurement fraud, payroll fraud mainly through ghost workers, fraudulent pending bills and blatant disregard of laws relating to prudent management of public affairs.

The anti-corruption agency says it has been able to arraign a total of 9 current and former governors over graft cases, that are both criminal and civil in nature.

Those arraigned include former Nyandarua governor Daniel Waithaka who is facing procurement fraud, a charge that also affects Tharaka Nithi governor Muthomi Njuki.

Others are former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu, former Migori boss Okoth Obado and former Nairobi county chief Mike Mbuvi alias Sonko.

In the last 10 years, EACC has received and processed 10,543 reports of corruption, and unethical conduct relating to county governments.

This week, President William Ruto warned public servants against corruption, stating that it will no longer be business as usual.

EACC is engaging legislators in a bid to be given more powers to investigate and prosecute corrupt suspects.