CEO of I Choose Life Africa Mike Mutungi speaking in Eldoret on December 9, 2024. MATHEWS NDANYICivil Society groups have launched a new anti-corruption initiative through which they will profile leaders and expenditure on public projects.
The NGOs have set up a website known as Kenya Mpya Website through which the leaders including all the 47 governors and others in public institutions will be profiled with other details showing implementation of projects and funds utilized on the same.
They will also profile MPs and all those in decision-making positions in the country.
Mike Mutungi, the CEO of I Choose Life Africa, says the aim is to give the public information, technology and tools they need to step up the war on graft by overseeing the performance of the leaders.
He said it was possible to have a corrupt-free society if all Kenyans engaged in pushing for accountability by all leaders and institutions.
“For example, we will provide information on all budgets to counties and lists of projects with specific status of implementation and allocated funds for the projects," said Mutungi.
He said that the provision of such information to the public would enable Kenyans to audit leaders and use the same information to determine the electability of the leaders.
Mutungi said lack of information had been a major hindrance in the fight against graft but through the Kenya Mpya website, Kenyans will be armed with information to check on the performance of their leaders and institutions.
He said Kenyans would be able to make informed decisions, especially on leadership and governance.
Mutungi added that with the profiling of all leaders, they will also be able to come up with scorecards for the leaders for use by Kenyans to decide from an informed position, especially during elections.
“Once we profile you as a leader and you have misappropriated public funds, then we will have a mechanism for the scorecards so that when we go to elections Kenyans can decide based on issues, facts and evidence," said Mutunga.
Civil society actors during the event to mark International Day on anti-corruption in Eldoret on Monday, December 9, 2024.He said I Choose Life Africa empowers more than one million youth annually through various activities and they believe it is possible to use the same youth to ensure a corrupt-free generation in the country.
The media, he said, is key in amplifying information from various actors in the war against graft which requires partnership from various groups.
Mutungi was speaking in Eldoret during an event to mark International Anti-corruption Day whose theme is centred around involving the youth in the war against graft
Uasin Gishu County commissioner Dr Eddison Nyale said youth were pivotal in the war against graft if they are mentored to always value integrity and high morals.
Nyale said there were structures in place used in the fight against graft led by the EACC.
“We should engage the youth because it's easy to transform society through them. The youth are active and can use information to cause change," said Dr Nyale.
Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr Eddison Nyale during an event to mark International Day on anti-corruption in Eldoret. MATHEWS NDANYIHe said the youth should be trained to uphold integrity from early stages in life so that they have a mindset that always upholds a corruption-free society.
Gibson Mwaita, the programs lead at Children's Mission Africa, said corruption hinders children and families from enjoying dignified lives.
“That is why we are running a no corruption generation because we are keen to bring up youth who do not partake in corruption," said Mwaita.
He said with a third of the annual national revenue lost through corruption, it was important to work towards having a society that values integrity and stops graft.
“We believe it's about the right values and integrity and not just having the institutions in place," said Mwaita.
Children's Mission in Partnership with I Choose Life -Africa, Navigators (EPTF) Kenya Trust, EACC, Transparency International Kenya, CAJ and Uasin Gishu County Government hosted the event in Eldoret to commemorate the International Anti-Corruption Day under the theme: Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity.
Children's Mission is running a program "No Corruption Generation" which is geared towards raising a generation that upholds values and integrity. Also present was Tom Owuor, Africa Mission Leader.
