The African Centre for Open Governance (AfriCOG) has issued a stark warning about the state of corruption in Kenya.

In its 2024 report, the civil society organization accuses President William Ruto’s administration of enabling a culture of corruption, citing unchecked scandals, misuse of public funds, and excessive external borrowing.

According to the report, Kenya acquired 36 new loans in the past year alone, amounting to approximately 900 billion shillings, with minimal accountability regarding the expenditure.

A significant concern raised by AfriCOG is the erosion of public trust in anti-corruption institutions, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP). Serfine Achieng’ Ouma reports.

The report comes amid heightened scrutiny of President Ruto’s two years in office, including controversial moves such as the push for appointing Chief Administrative Secretaries, punitive tax measures, and the contentious Adani-KETRACO power transmission deal.

The deal was made amid emerging controversy surrounding the planned leasing of Kenya’s international airport to the Indian conglomerate Adani Group Holdings Limited.

AfriCOG’s report paints a grim picture of Kenya’s governance under Ruto, accusing the administration of fostering a patron-client system, where those in power protect their supporters at the expense of accountability.

In response to the administration’s handling of corruption, AfriCOG highlights several high-profile cases of questionable actions. One such case involved former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was charged in 2021 with six counts of economic crimes.

However, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) withdrew all charges against him after he assumed the position of Deputy President under Ruto’s administration.

Similarly, Wycliffe Oparanya, who was charged with corruption offences while serving as Governor of Kakamega County, saw the DPP withdraw charges against him once he was nominated to be a Cabinet Secretary by President Ruto.

AfriCOG further accuses the administration of weaponizing the criminal justice system, alleging that the DPP has acted in defense of the presidency and those close to the Executive.

In addition to concerns about political interference in corruption cases, the report indicates a decline in public confidence in anti-corruption institutions.

Reports to the EACC have dropped significantly, with only 5,000 complaints recorded in the past year, down from about 10,000 complaints five years ago.

Similarly, the police are receiving very few reports of corruption, signaling a widespread loss of faith in the institutions meant to combat graft.

Ruto’s administration is also facing criticism for its handling of Kenya's rising public debt. AfriCOG argues that the current government has continued the previous administration's debt practices with a lack of accountability and transparency.

According to the Controller of Budget, Kenya took on 36 new loans in the past year, amounting to 900 billion shillings, most of which were commercial loans.

The report was launched in conjunction with the International Anti-Corruption Day, marked under the theme "Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow's Integrity."