Kenya’s efforts to tackle corruption have continued to face headwinds slowing down the resolve to protect public property from plunder.

The latest report published by Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya), in collaboration with URAIA Trust, titled ‘Rubber Meets the Road: An Assessment on the Impact of Anti-Corruption Laws and Institutions in Kenya‘, highlighted critical gaps in legislation, institutional capacity, and enforcement mechanisms.

Released on Monday, March 24, 2025, the report observed that the country continues to lag in the purge against graft despite having a robust legal framework—including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act, the Anti-Bribery Act, and the Leadership and Integrity Act.

“Key challenges include weak enforcement of anti-corruption laws, inadequate resources for oversight institutions, overlapping mandates among agencies, and low public trust in the country’s anti-corruption efforts,” the report read in part.

Further Transparency International Kenya survey established that key institutions such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) grappled with resource challenges which further affected their efforts to slay corruption in the country.

With the latest framework signed between President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) giving key emphasis on fighting corruption, Transparency International explored ways Kenya could pick a few lessons from Rwanda and Singapore to deal with the issue.

Rwanda’s zero-tolerance policy

According to Transparency International Kenya can redouble its efforts by emulating some of the policies adopted by its East African neighbour, Rwanda.

The report highlighted the aggressive war on corruption strategy adopted by Paul Kagame’s administration noting that it had made a significant reverse on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

Allowing people to report anonymously, granting independence to EACC, and strengthening other institutions are among the active policies Transparency International fronted to Kenya to adopt from Rwanda to tackle corruption.

“Rwanda’s socioeconomic development under President Paul Kagame offers a perfect example of how ethical leadership complemented with an aggressive war on corruption can produce dramatic results. It has resulted in a militant type of intolerance that has admission under the cultural banner of a new country that believes in unity and accountability,” the report read in part.

“The country has focused on ethical governance to prevent corruption, enhance investors’ confidence, invite external investment, and boost public confidence in governance institutions. Kenya can do the same and redouble efforts: the Leadership and Integrity Act needs to be bolstered; anti-corruption agencies, like the EACC, need to be granted more independence from political influence; for instance, it has gone from being regionally corrupt into one of the world’s cleanest states within the past half-century,” it added.

Singapore institutional integrity

The report also picked some lessons from Singapore which thought could help Kenya deal with graft. They attributed the success rate to appropriate institutions that Singapore has established, including the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), and supported by an ethic that ensures that employees with a good work ethic are respected in the country.

“Singapore’s strategy is to first have severe punishments that check corruption and, second, use preventive measures, such as paying competitive salaries to avoid bribery,” the survey indicated.

Besides having strong policies, Transparency International hailed Singapore for incorporating ethical and moral values into its societal base.

“Culturally and ethically responsible teachings are incorporated into the academic lesson plans to teach the students moral and ethical acts of responsibility.

“Moreover, a public awareness campaign focuses on the effects of procedures, thus reminding people that society does not tolerate unethical work. Analysing the cases of Rwanda and Singapore it is obvious that pursuing a firm ethical approach is crucial for fighting corruption,” Transparency International Kenya reported.

It thus proposed the combination of legal institutional and cultural measures to build a culture of integrity in the country.

” It means that if Kenya decides to implement similar measures, it would record considerable improvements in fighting corruption. “

Speaking at the launch, Sheila Masinde, Executive Director – Transparency International Kenya (TI-Kenya), emphasized the urgent need for reforms, stating, “This report is a wake-up call. Kenya must take decisive action to close legal loopholes, strengthen institutions, and empower citizens to demand accountability. Corruption is not just a legal issue; it’s a governance crisis that erodes morals, ethics, and the future of every Kenyan.”