Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku has called on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to arrest all civil servants highlighted in its recent corruption reports, maintaining that the government will no longer tolerate the looting of public resources.
The CS was speaking on Wednesday, August 6, in Matuga Constituency, Kwale County, where he had attended a Participative Special Programmes mission.
Ruku maintained that the era of impunity was over and warned that no official, regardless of rank, would be spared if found culpable.
“I am calling on the EACC to act decisively and arrest all those named in the reports. We cannot continue protecting corrupt public servants. The President has made it clear: integrity must prevail, and Kenya must be free of corruption,” Ruku said.
In a report released on Monday, August 5, the EACC ranked the Ministry of Interior and National Administration as the most corruption-prone national government institution, with a prevalence of 47.8 per cent.
The Ministry of Health, under Aden Duale, followed at 19.7 per cent, while the pensions department within the National Treasury came third with 5.8 per cent.
Other ministries cited were Lands and Housing (4.7 per cent), Education (4.1 per cent), Roads and Transport (4.0 per cent), and Defence (2.8 per cent).
The CS noted that the Kenya Kwanza administration was determined to clean up the public service and restore citizens’ confidence in government institutions.
“This is not just talk. It is a directive from the highest level to root out corruption wherever it exists,” he said.
Kenyans have also been called upon to be vigilant and encouraged to report any public servant they suspect is dishonest. The CS also called on all public servants to uphold integrity and remain free from corruption while serving the people of Kenya
“Do not fear reporting corrupt officers. Even if it means calling me directly or forwarding the information to the relevant authorities, speak up,” he urged.
The report released by EACC reflected an entrenched corruption in ministries managing security, public finance, and citizen documentation.
Ministries with the lowest corruption perception include the Attorney General’s office (0.9 per cent), Sports (0.7 per cent), Water (0.5 per cent), Trade and Investments (0.4 per cent), Co-operatives and MSMEs (0.3 per cent), Tourism (0.1 per cent), and ICT (0.1 per cent).
