EACC Warns Voters Against Ethnicity and Bribes Ahead of 2027 General Election

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chief Executive Officer Abdi Ahmed Mohamud has urged Kenyans to exercise strict integrity when casting their votes in the upcoming 2027 General Election, cautioning against electing leaders based on ethnic affiliations, clan considerations, or financial hand-outs.

Speaking in Kajiado County on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, during an EACC Mashinani community engagement forum, Mohamud warned voters that accepting money from campaign aspirants severely compromises their ability to demand accountability for poor service delivery or unfulfilled promises once leaders take office. He urged citizens to evaluate candidates solely on their capacity to manage public resources and execute development mandates.

“We understand that next year we will be going to the elections, and all that is required of us is to choose leaders with integrity. That’s our responsibility; however, some of us do not take it seriously. That’s where we go wrong as citizens,” Mohamud stated. “This year we should really think, so that we cannot start complaining after the elections.”

Reinforcing the message, EACC Chairperson Bishop David Oginde called on citizens to reject corrupt public officers regardless of familial or communal ties, characterizing individuals who loot public funds as direct adversaries of community welfare. Oginde challenged public servants to treat executive appointments as public trusts rather than vehicles for self-enrichment.

The anti-corruption drive in Kajiado comes against the backdrop of findings from the Kenya National Gender and Corruption Survey, which revealed a sharp 38 percent increase in the national average bribe amount—rising from Ksh 4,878 in 2024 to Ksh 6,724 in 2025. The report highlighted that citizens paid an average bribe of Ksh 13,038 to elected county representatives, Ksh 1,445 to legislators, and Ksh 20,126 to civil servants, underscoring systemic integrity challenges across public sector institutions.