KENYAN organisations on Thursday launched an anti-corruption initiative to
curb wastage of public resources.

The organisations drawn from the private sector, religious community and media said in Nairobi that the
country loses up to 30 per cent of national budget to the vice.

“We are launching movement against corruption because we are concerned that level of corruption if left `
unchecked will damage the country,” said Lee Karuri, Chairman of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance
(KEPSA) Foundation.

He added that the initiative will help the country deal with corruption in a sustainable and determined
manner within all sectors of the economy.

Karuri said the private sector has made up their mind to participate in the fight against corruption as
they can longer sit down and watch the plunder of public resources.

“We want to reverse the theft in order to ensure there are sufficient resources to finance provision of
public service delivery,” he observed.

Kiprono Kittony, Chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), said private
sector will intensify the war against corruption through adhering to a strict code of conduct which
will ensure there is self regulation.

According to KNCCI, corruption is a threat to social economic stability because it drives poverty
and inequality.

Eliud Wabukhala, Chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), said Kenya has
experienced an unprecedented increase in the levels of corruption over the years, which has led
to negative effects on the economy and slowed down overall national development.

Wabukhala said the menace has led to provision of substandard goods and services leading to several
challenges affecting the public.

“This system of corruption has evolved into cartels involving several people in the public sector,
private and non-governmental sectors of the society as well as the ordinary citizens.

“It has evolved to be a lifestyle and culture which we intend to fight and reverse,” he added. (Xinhua/NAN)

Aug. 9, 2018 @ 14:19 GMT |