EACC
Chairperson Bishop Dr. David Oginde addresses clergy at Ufungamano House,
warning against accepting illicit campaign funds from politicians.
By Maximilla Wafula Sub Editor, The County Diary
Religious leaders across Kenya have received a stern
warning against accepting or legitimizing illicit funds from politicians as
momentum builds toward the 2027 General Elections.
Delivering a keynote address during day two of the
National Stakeholders’ Convention at Ufungamano House in Nairobi, Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairperson, Bishop Dr. David Oginde,
cautioned faith leaders against turning the pulpit into a haven for unexplained
wealth. Addressing delegates from the National Council of Churches of Kenya
(NCCK), the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), and the Supreme
Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), Oginde warned that politicians who finance
campaigns through corruption, money laundering, and illicit deals will
inevitably compromise governance once in power.
"There is no way we are going to build a
society of integrity if we are beneficiaries of illicit resources," Oginde
stated, emphasizing that politicians who bribe their way into leadership resort
to inflated tenders, procurement manipulations, and systemic graft to repay
their financial backers.
The warning highlights growing national concern over
the distorting influence of money politics ahead of the 2027 polls. With rising
political temperatures, candidates are increasingly splashing large sums of
money to woo voters and turning religious services into campaign arenas. Oginde
expressed deep concern that financial muscle is overriding leadership
qualities, values, and merit, effectively giving corrupt candidates an unfair
advantage over principled contenders.
Urging religious leaders to reject unverified
donations, the EACC chairperson warned that accepting such money normalizes
corruption across the country. "When illicit money dictates political
outcomes, leadership ceases to serve the people and begins serving the highest
bidder," he noted.
The convention which also featured youth panels on
governance and reports on civic engagement concluded with a unified call for
relentless vigilance. As Kenya navigates the road to 2027, the EACC and
faith-based organizations insist that safeguarding democratic integrity demands
zero tolerance for political bribery, demanding that citizens and spiritual
leaders alike stand firm against the quiet erosion of the nation's democratic
space.
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