The Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) has announced the establishment of Integrity Clubs in over 1,000 schools across the country.

Integrity Clubs are established by EACC in schools and other learning institutions across the country as platforms for uniting in-school youth in the promotion of ethics, integrity and good governance through debates, art, culture, sports and other activities.

Speaking during a workshop in Machakos bringing together patrons of the clubs from Machakos, Makueni, Kitui and Kajiado, EACC Deputy Director in charge of Public Education and Awareness Dr Emily Mworia said EACC is implementing diverse strategies for inculcating values among young people as one way of responding to the challenge of corruption.

“One of the strategies is the establishment of Integrity Clubs in learning institutions- universities, colleges, and schools. The clubs are platforms for nurturing ethical living among students with a view to making them responsible and patriotic citizens who will not engage in corruption during their teenage and adult lives,” Mworia said.

The anti-graft watchdog says the clubs will promote the right attitudes, values that influence ethical behaviour, good character among youth and also develop law-abiding, patriotic and responsible citizens.

“The clubs will enlist youth support in the war on corruption, identify ethical dilemmas affecting youth and how to resolve them, enhance learners’ knowledge of ethics and integrity thus promote ethical behaviour in institutions of learning,” Mworia said.

Role of EACC’s Integrity Clubs

She says the clubs will further promote a culture of hard work with integrity and encourage unwavering compliance to stipulated regulations and also encourage youth to be self-directed, focused and responsible.

“They will help to mobilize members towards desired positive behaviour and attitude change and expose members to existing information and trends. The clubs will also develop and enhance appropriate leadership qualities and decision-making skills and provide non-conventional modes of passing crucial information in a relaxed atmosphere,” she added.

Through the clubs, EACC also aims to create awareness and responsiveness to the prevailing societal challenges, form networks of knowledge sharing and learning on ethics and integrity and motivate members to be agents of desired change in society.

The clubs are also aimed at empowering youth to advocate for good governance as a means of combating corruption and encourage them to demand accountability, transparency and responsibility from leaders.