EACC recovering Sh5 billion looted public property

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) completed 32 asset-tracing inquiries in respect of Sh5 billion public assets that had been illegally acquired in the year to June 2017.

Halakhe Waqo, the EACC secretary, says the recovery of public land, government houses and cash that had been looted is ongoing.

“More so, 23 applications for preservation of assets were made and Sh256 million assets recovered. The commission carried out 25 covert investigations resulting in averting loss of public funds at approximately Sh6.2 billion,” Mr Waqo said in the EACC annual report for the year 2016/17 that was tabled in Parliament by Leader of Majority Aden Duale.

He said the commission has witnessed an upsurge of reports on corruption and unethical conduct in the 47 counties. He said EACC is deploying resources to address the situation and investigations are at various stages.

Mr Waqo said the EACC received and analysed 8,044 reports or complaints of which 3,735 fell within its mandate. “The remainder were referred to other State agencies for specified action,” Mr Waqo said.

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In the same period, Mr Wako said 574 reports on violations of Chapter Six of the Constitution were received, out of which 111 were analysed and completed.

“Consequently, 143 files on corruption and economic crimes were analysed and submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for action while other cases are at different stages. Out of these files, the commission recommended 110 for prosecutions, seven for administrative action and 26 for closure,” Mr Waqo said.

He said 25 cases were finalised in court resulting in 18 convictions and seven acquittals, with three cases being withdrawn. “In converse, 62 petitions challenging investigations and prosecutions were filed against the commission,” the EACC said.