Tuesday, July 11, 2023

The Kenyan society is lagging behind on matters societal integrity, this is according to former Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Director and East African Court of Appeal Judge Retired Justice Aaron Ringera.

Ringera said this when he delivered an integrity lecture titled; The quest for an ethical Kenyan society: essentials, challenges and opportunities in commemoration of the 7th African Anti- Corruption Day at the University of Nairobi (UoN) on 11TH July, 2023.

According the retired Justice, most Kenyans want to take shortcuts to achieve success in any endeavour, ranging from use of fake academic certificates to seek employment, theft of public resources, and disregard of the rule of law.

“Sadly, we have also heard of cases of children killing parents so as to accelerate succession in their favour among other social ills. It is this lack of integrity in the Kenyan society that has led to widespread corruption and unethical behaviour in both the public sector and the private Sector.

“The cancer of dishonesty on the part of ordinary workers, management and leadership, the professionals, the political class, and yes, oh yes, the spiritual leadership in the various faiths is regularly reported in the press, the social media and interpersonal conversions. We are not being mindful of one another, we are not faithful stewards of the resources and responsibilities entrusted to us, and patriotism is a value only sang on national occasions,” Ringera said.

He noted that despite the existing policy, legal and institutional frameworks for promotion of ethical values, Kenya’s moral fabric remains shattered with family no longer playing its crucial role in shaping values. 

“Taking an helicopter view of the scene, we see several challenges including greed and glorification of corruptly acquired wealth, exposure of children to drugs, pornography and unregulated social media,  diminishing apprenticeship role of parents and older members of the society, few role models ,disregard for the rule of law and inadequate sanctions for offenders, diminishing leadership accountability in the various spheres of life ,Politicization and ethnicization of anti-corruption initiatives, and, of course, public apathy and  failure of citizens to discharge their civic responsibility in the governance processes. We see that corruption in Kenya is widespread and deep rooted in the body politic.  Having permeated all spheres of the economy, it has largely been internalized as a way of life by citizens and their leaders alike,” Ringera said.

We must admit that corruption remains a major challenge in all spheres of Kenya’s governance, and continues to cause grave harm to citizens and outlined various ways that can be employed in the fight against the vice. They include; Infusion of compulsory ethical training in Kenya’s education system, wealth declaration by all public officials, strengthening enforcement of Chapter Six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity, addressing gaps in anti-corruption legal frameworks, building the capacity of critical institutions in the fight against corruption, recovery of assets stolen from the public, annual publication of a list of shame, and reward for anti-corruption champions.

While representing the Vice Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama at the event, Prof. Julius Ogeng’o, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs said UoN has long been committed to promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability in all aspects of its operations, and take great pride in its contributions to combatting corruption in the society.

“The University has placed strong emphasis on integrating anti-corruption education into our curriculum, ensuring that our students not only acquire academic knowledge but also develop a

deep understanding of the ethical principles that underpin a corruption-free society. We continue to instill leadership and integrity values in our graduates because they are the leaders of tomorrow,” Prof Ogeng’o said.

The DVC observed that the fight against corruption requires sustained commitment and collective action from all sectors of society saying that the University of Nairobi remains steadfast in its dedication to this cause.

“We will continue to promote integrity, educate our students, conduct impactful research, and

collaborate with stakeholders to build a corruption-free Africa. I urge everyone present here today to join hands in this noble endeavour. Let us inspire change, champion integrity, and create a society where corruption has no place. Together, we can make a difference,” Prof. Ogeng’o said.