NAIROBI — In a fresh push to tighten Kenya’s fight against corruption, the country’s anti-graft agency is preparing to launch new guidelines aimed at helping public and private organizations root out bribery before it takes hold.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), working in partnership with the Global Compact Network Kenya, is set to unveil the Corruption Risk Assessment and Management Guidelines a practical toolkit designed to help institutions spot red flags early and act before damage is done.
EACC Chairperson Dr David Oginde and the commission’s top brass are expected to lead the launch, alongside business leaders including Sasini Group CEO Martin Ochien’g, who also chairs the Global Compact Network’s board. Judy Njino, Executive Director of the Network, will also attend.
According to organisers, the guidelines offer more than a checklist. They outline clear steps for assessing potential weak points within an organisation, with recommendations on how to respond effectively.
“This is not just about compliance,” said a senior EACC official familiar with the project, who was not authorised to speak publicly. “It’s about building a culture where corruption finds no room to hide.”
The guidelines also affirm EACC’s role in helping public bodies, private firms and even individuals build internal controls to prevent bribery and unethical conduct. It’s part of a wider mandate under Kenya’s anti-corruption law, which increasingly emphasises prevention rather than punishment alone.
Kenya has long struggled with systemic graft, which costs the economy billions of shillings every year. From inflated procurement deals to routine bribery in public services, the problem touches every corner of society.
The new guidelines aim to make it easier for organizations to move from vague anti-corruption pledges to practical action. They stress early detection and risk mapping as key steps alongside proper training, whistleblower protections, and regular audits.
Mr Ochien’g, representing the corporate sector, said businesses have a duty to lead by example. “Companies must take the front line in cleaning up not just their books, but their behaviour,” he said at a pre-launch meeting last week. “Integrity must be part of the business model.”
The Global Compact Network, an initiative of the United Nations, works with local companies to uphold principles around human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption. Kenya’s chapter has increasingly focused on tackling unethical business practices, especially in supply chains and procurement.
As Kenya gears up for what may become a turning point in public accountability, the question remains whether institutions will take the new framework seriously or treat it as just another document for the shelf.
For the EACC, which has often faced criticism for slow investigations and few convictions, this may be a chance to shift the narrative offering not just prosecution, but prevention.
