David Oginde vows to tame graft in church and public sector

Dr Bishop David Oginde, nominee for appointment as the Chairperson for the Ethics and Anti - Corruption Commission when he appeared before the Justice and Legal Affairs committee at the Mini - Chamber ,County Hall,Nairobi on April 5, 2023. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission nominee for chairman David Oginde has vowed to act tough on religious institutions engaging in money laundering and other forms of corruption.

Appearing before the Parliament's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) for vetting yesterday, Bishop Oginde said should he be approved by the National Assembly, he would ensure zero graft-tolerance across the board. "Corruption is corruption regardless of where it happens. If it is proven that something fishy is going on in churches, mosques and even private institutions, then it will be dealt with," he said.

He was responding to a query by JLAC chairman George Murugara during vetting to determine his suitability to lead the anti-graft agency.

In the lead-up to August 2022 elections, religious institutions were in the eye of a storm battling claims of being conduits of money laundering by the political elite.

The legislators were concerned that despite the existence of stringent laws, the country was still rocked by corruption scandals, with the EACC seemingly helpless.

South Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka pressed the bishop to explain strategies he would employ to combat graft. "What different ideas do you bring to the office?" posed Mogaka. Wajir East MP Mohammed Aden asked: "Why do you want to soil your name in a country that you say is corrupt?"

The bishop said he would rely on a series of interventions such as the introduction of strict time frames within which high-profile graft cases would be concluded, ensuring those presented in court by EACC are well investigated and strict enforcement of anti-graft laws.

"I would like to implore the Judiciary and Law Society of Kenya that if we love this country, the way we handle corruption cases should be focused on eradicating it. Some people are let go on flimsy grounds or technicalities and hence public opinion is that justice was not served," said Oginde.

"The threshold of dismissing cases should be set higher to deter corruption," he added. The former Citam cleric told the committee he would implement a top-down approach in his fight against corruption, where he would prioritise and expedite conclusion of high profile corruption cases which would then set the pace for others.

At the same time, Oginde said he would resign should he fail to end the corruption culture among Kenyans.

"If Kenyans show me that corruption is who they are and the efforts that we implement as a commission are not bearing fruit, then I would be ready to resign and take the moral high ground," he said.

"I will, however, not resign because the powers that be have taken a specific position. That will be surrendering...," he added. The committee will write a report and table it and Oginde's nomination will be approved or rejected.