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The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has accused politicians of interfering in the war on corruption.

Top leaders of the agency yesterday said that due to lack of political goodwill, EACC had not effectively prosecuted corruption cases.

Politicians, they said, had also devised schemes to counter the agency’s operations, including plotting to pass laws aimed at frustrating the war against corruption.

Speaking during the launch EACC’s 2023/28 Strategic Plan, chairman David Oginde hit out at political parties for ganging up to defend members accused of graft.

“When a politician is being questioned about corruption, his political party rises and says we are being targeted. Unless, you are saying the party sent this person to steal on your behalf, which then we have to deal with, allow this person to answer the question we are asking,” he said.

Chief Executive Twalib Mbarak faulted the public for being bribed to vote for politicians, saying the war on corruption cannot be won if politicians “bought” their seats.

“If for a person to get a political seat, he must bribe the voters, such a person when he gets into office will have three priorities and development will not be his agenda. He will first recoup what he has spent, then accumulate for the next election and if he is a strategist, he will now think of how he can have extra so that in case he is not re-elected, he will be safe money-wise,” Mbarak said.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi called upon Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma and his Mbeere North counterpart Goeffrey Ruku to withdraw proposed Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Amendment Bills currently in Parliament saying the bills will mutilate anti-corruption law.

“Kaluma’s Bill aims to amend the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act of 2003 by removing the provision disqualifying individuals convicted of corruption or economic crimes from holding public office.

On the other hand, Ruku’s Bill seeks to decriminalize certain aspects of public procurement, property disposal, contract tendering, fund management, and expenditure. If these proposed amendments are accepted, they will open the door for individuals with corruption histories to hold public office, and offer significant leniency to those inclined toward corrupt practices within the public sector,” Mudavadi stated.