EACC fights off ‘toothless dog’ tag as it defends its anti-graft record
By Mustafa Juma, July 7, 2026The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has pushed back against persistent claims that it lacks the power to effectively combat corruption, insisting that the agency remains one of Kenya’s most active law enforcement institutions despite criticism over the pace of high-profile graft cases.
Speaking during an interview with K24 TV on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, Dr Susan Kinyeki, the EACC’s deputy director and regional manager, dismissed the long-standing description of the anti-graft agency as a “toothless dog”, arguing that such criticism often comes from people who have never encountered the commission’s investigative machinery.
“A toothless dog is a dog nevertheless. We have all this corruption, and EACC is there. Imagine if it were not there,” she said.
She maintained that the commission has continued to investigate suspects, forward cases for prosecution and recover public assets despite the perception that it has failed to tame corruption.
“But be as it may, EACC is not a toothless dog. If you have never been arrested or brought to book by EACC, then you can talk anyhow, but if you have been our client, and we have taken your statement, and we have processed you through court, then ‘toothless dog’ loses meaning,” Kinyeki said.
Kenyans’ trust in EACC
Dr. Kinyeki said public confidence in the commission remains strong, noting that many Kenyans report complaints to EACC even when the issues fall outside its legal mandate.
Recalling her previous role overseeing reports and data management at the commission, she said members of the public regularly walked into EACC offices seeking assistance.
“EACC is very vibrant to the extent that Kenyans trust us. My immediate role was that I was in charge of reports and data management and we had Wanjiku walking in and telling us issues that are outside EACC,” she said.
According to her, the willingness by ordinary Kenyans to report suspected wrongdoing reflects confidence in the commission’s work.
“That means there is a vote of confidence on our work.”
Why corruption cases take time
Addressing concerns over delays in concluding corruption cases, Dr. Kinyeki argued that the complexity of financial investigations often makes them lengthy.
She said investigations involving procurement, abuse of office, unexplained wealth and public finance require extensive evidence gathering before suspects can be charged.
“Saying that EACC is toothless is wrong; it is only that some corruption cases take long,” she said.
Her remarks come amid growing public frustration over prolonged court battles involving senior public officials accused of corruption, with some cases taking years before determination.
Long-standing criticism
The “toothless dog” label has been associated with the EACC for years, particularly during periods when high-profile corruption scandals have dominated national headlines without resulting in swift convictions.
Critics have frequently accused the commission of arresting suspects only for cases to stall in court or end without convictions.
Others have argued that the agency has struggled to tackle politically connected individuals, fuelling perceptions that anti-corruption enforcement is selective.
The EACC has consistently rejected those claims, maintaining that its mandate is limited to investigation, asset recovery and recommending prosecutions, while decisions on charges are made by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and convictions ultimately rest with the courts.
EACC’s recent anti-graft efforts
In recent years, the commission has intensified investigations into procurement fraud, abuse of office, conflict of interest, bribery and unexplained wealth.
The agency has also pursued recovery of public land and frozen assets suspected to have been acquired through corruption and partnered with other government institutions to strengthen preventive measures against graft.
According to the commission’s annual reports, billions of shillings’ worth of public assets have been recovered or preserved through civil proceedings, while numerous corruption-related files have been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for action.
However, despite these efforts, Kenya continues to face significant corruption challenges, with watchdog organisations and governance experts repeatedly calling for faster investigations, more successful prosecutions and stronger institutional coordination.