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The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) reports that it is currently pursuing asset seizures worth Sh33 billion in courts countrywide raises cautious optimism that this hitherto moribund institution is beginning to roar.

EACC’s chairperson Archbishop (Rtd) Eliud Wabukala states further that they have averted losses of Sh32 billion through disruption of corruption networks. Clearly, something is churning. In the last three months alone, EACC has chalked up notable victories.

Two former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials Wilson Shollei and former CEO  James Oswago, were convicted of abuse of office over their involvement in a Sh1.3 billion procurement scandal. They both paid a Sh7.5 million fine to escape a four-year jail term.

Similarly, the High Court refused to review the decision of the anti-corruption court to jail former Kenya Medical Research Institute chief executive Dr Davy Koech for six years for corruptly acquiring Sh19 million from the institution. Recoveries are now on speed dial.

EACC obtained court orders to seize cash and other unexplained assets worth over Sh30 million belonging to a police officer Chief Inspector Gabriel Mbiti Mulei. The police officer earns Sh20,000 a month.

EACC has also obtained orders to freeze cash and assets worth Sh48 million belonging to a billboards advertising official in Nairobi City County government, Wilson Kanani. He earns Sh55,000 per month, but received over Sh500 million in the last six years. In another case, EACC got orders to freeze cash and assets worth Sh40 million that belongs to a procurement officer in the Nairobi City Cunty government, Micheal Auka. He earns Sh 21,000.

Just last week, the anti-corruption court allowed EACC to seize land worth Sh15 million belonging to wife of former Murang’a governor, Mwangi wa Iria. This is pending an ongoing suit in which the anti-graft agency is seeking to seize Sh542.6 million of his assets, which they say were corruptly acquired. The courts have really upped their game, and are now at par with the EACC in terms of being pillars in the war against graft. The long derided anti-corruption courts seem to have grown some real teeth.  The Director of Public Prosecutions remains the weakest link in this chain. That office needs to be revamped urgently. The Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) seems to have taken a back seat. They cannot afford to do that now. All hands must be on deck, as the work is much more than there are workers!

It is now clear that too many public servants went into Government simply because it provided them the best opportunity for primitive accumulation through plunder of public resources. EACC must rid the Government of these charlatans soonest possible, and take back all ill-gotten wealth. It is also clear that if EACC seized all plundered resources from public servants, the Government’s budget deficit would be a thing of the past.  All of a sudden, public servants who have been plundering the economy have nowhere to hide.

Let public servants decide, either come out here and  brave the earth, wind and fire that  businesspeople face every day as they conduct business in an attempt to be rich, or be satisfied with their lifelong assured  monthly salaries  whatever happens to the rest of the economy, and work for the people of Kenya. EACC is sending the message you cannot do both.  Public servants should realise that corruption and plunder of public funds is now a zero-sum game. It is no longer worth it. The cheese has moved. You’ll lose it all- your job, your ill-gotten wealth, and maybe even be criminally charged.  EACC has done well, but they have barely scratched the surface. The Government must boost their capacity to spread across the 47 counties comprehensively. The chief justice must increase the number of anticorruption courts.

It is now looking like maybe, just maybe, the battle against graft in Kenya may finally have started to generate its own momentum.

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