Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Communications Director Philip Etale has called for tougher measures against corruption, saying extreme punishment could discourage people from engaging in graft.

Speaking during a morning interview on Monday, July 13, 2026, Etale suggested that Kenya could adopt a stricter approach similar to China’s anti-corruption laws, arguing that severe consequences would make people fear stealing public resources.

“If we get three corrupt people hanged in public at Uhuru Park, we will all fear corruption, just like in China,” Etale said.

He argued that corruption had become deeply rooted in Kenyan society and required stronger laws to address it.

His remarks came amid continued debate over how Kenya should tackle graft, which has remained a major concern for citizens, development partners and government institutions.

Etale said he observed strict attitudes towards corruption during a recent visit to China, claiming that fear of punishment influenced people’s behaviour.

He recounted an experience at a hotel where he wanted to give a worker a tip after receiving laundry services but was told it was not allowed.

“I wanted to give her some tips. You know, with that bad English, ‘No, no, no tip.’ Because they know the consequences,” he said.

Etale claimed that in China, corruption offences can attract severe penalties, adding that the possibility of punishment discourages people from accepting improper benefits.

“If I give her that tip and then I report, she’ll be hanged,” he said.

China’s anti-corruption system has included severe penalties for officials convicted of major corruption offences, including the death penalty in some cases. However, the use of capital punishment for corruption has attracted international debate.

Kenya’s corruption challenge

Etale’s comments come as Kenya continues to face pressure to strengthen its fight against corruption.

The World Bank recently urged Kenya to implement governance reforms aimed at improving transparency and accountability. The reforms include stronger conflict-of-interest rules, an electronic procurement system, a single treasury account and progress on whistleblower protection laws.

World Bank officials have warned that corruption affects public service delivery by diverting resources away from essential sectors such as health, education and infrastructure.

“Every shilling lost to weak controls, to corruption, to poor procurement means a shilling not going to schools, roads or health clinics,” World Bank Kenya Country Director Qimao Fan said.

The lender has also linked corruption concerns to public frustration, noting that protests in recent years reflected citizens’ demands for more transparent management of public funds.

Outgoing European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger has also described corruption as one of the country’s biggest challenges, calling it Kenya’s “Achilles heel”.

Geiger said corruption had weakened public confidence and slowed economic progress, arguing that the risk of engaging in graft must be increased.

“For me, the first thing that needs to happen is to make it very risky to engage in corruption,” she said.

Calls for stronger action

Etale said Kenya needed laws that would create a stronger deterrent against corruption.

“We need to have harsh laws that can help us curb corruption because it has become something that I think is our cup of tea, daily cup of tea,” he said.

He compared corruption discussions in Kenya to a routine issue, saying many people had become used to hearing about graft allegations.

“Everyone talks about it. Even that chai ya macho is corruption,” he added.