The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has sent a stern warning to public officials illegally using their offices for personal gain. The agency has, following a thorough investigation, ordered a former senior lands official to surrender to the government assets, cash and motor vehicles worth Sh426.8 million.
The EACC moved swiftly after the High Court found that former Kilifi Principal Land Registrar Felix Mecha Nyakundi and his family had failed to explain how they acquired their immense wealth in Nairobi and other parts of the country.
Between January 2013 and March 2024, he and his former associates irregularly acquired assets worth Sh771.8 million in a blatant violation of public interest. During the period under review, he only earned a gross salary ranging from Sh69,660 in 2013 to Sh115,630 in 2024.
His accomplices should also be sought, and their ill-gotten wealth similarly seized. The investigation into unexplained wealth, unethical conduct and bribery has confirmed just how corrupt officials continue to loot public resources.
Public sector corruption drains hundreds of billions of shillings every year, enriching a few people instead of equipping hospitals and health centres and schools. Medical supplies are diverted to nearby private pharmacies. Missing X-ray machines and diagnostic tools force patients and their families to pay much higher fees in private clinics.
About Sh600 billion is lost annually through theft, waste, and stalled public infrastructure projects. More money is also stolen through inflated procurement deals. Corrupt officials use fake tenders and inflated pricing to steal more public money meant for development. A corrupt political and bureaucratic elite hijacks public institutions to protect shady financial interests.
Poor enforcement of rules and a lack of transparency allow some officials to misuse public funds as the culprits go scot-free. The EACC has secured a 72 per cent conviction rate in corruption cases and recovered Sh7.8 billion in stolen public funds in recent years.
The nailing of the former lands registrar is a vital triumph against graft that should be stepped up.
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