Religious leaders have been called upon to distance themselves from and refuse to endorse illicit funds as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairperson Dr. David Oginde cautioned that money obtained through corruption, money laundering and unexplained wealth could influence electoral outcomes and eventually contribute to corruption within government.
Speaking during the National Stakeholders’ Convention at Ufungamano House in Nairobi, Dr. Oginde warned that politicians who rely on illegally acquired wealth to finance their campaigns may feel obligated to repay those who fund them once they assume office. He noted that such obligations could manifest through irregular procurement processes, inflated government tenders and other corrupt arrangements designed to benefit political financiers.
Dr. Oginde emphasized that elections should be based on the character, values, principles and leadership abilities of candidates rather than their financial resources. He further cautioned that candidates with access to illicit wealth could gain an unfair advantage over their competitors, making it harder for voters to assess leaders on merit. “There is no way we are going to build a society of integrity if we are beneficiaries of illicit resources,” Dr. Oginde said.
The EACC chairperson was addressing stakeholders on the topic, “Corruption and Politics in Kenya: How Illicit Money Drives Democracy and Viable Mitigations.” The convention, jointly convened by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), has brought together more than 150 participants.
The meeting seeks to strengthen the role of different stakeholders in promoting transparent, peaceful and credible elections while developing measures aimed at protecting the integrity of the 2027 electoral process.
The stakeholders are expected to explore ways of preventing illicit money from influencing voters and undermining democratic processes ahead of the General Election.
