The anti-corruption commission has threatened to publish the names of corrupt politicians with a view to block them from contesting in the 2022 General Election.

Speaking in Mombasa during an induction workshop with the board of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chairman Eliud Wabukala said the anti-graft body will ensure corrupt leaders, some of whom have pending graft cases, are not on the ballot.

“This time, we are going to publish names of politicians who have corrupt cases pending at the EACC so that they cannot assume office, we want all leaders with integrity questions to be barred from the ballot,” said Wabukala.

He said the agency will issue advisories to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and other relevant agencies to ensure only politicians without integrity issues are cleared to run for various seats in the next general election.

Wabukala rebuffed claims the commission was targeting some politicians unfairly because of their political affiliation.

Deputy President William Ruto has repeatedly accused various investigating agencies including the anti-corruption agency and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations of targeting his political allies.

“Politicians should not hide behind claims of ‘witch hunt’ whenever we raise integrity issues against them,” he said.

He also called on Kenyans to desist from defending corrupt individuals simply because they hail from their ethnic communities.

The former Anglican Church of Kenya head said 80 percent of corruption in the country can be eliminated if Kenyans elect people of integrity.