The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has called for stronger ethical leadership in Kenya’s justice sector during the Annual Human Rights Summit 2025, convened by the Judiciary to assess the state of human rights and governance in the country.
The summit brought together senior officials, including the Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, the Principal Judge of the High Court, the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, the President of the Law Society of Kenya, the Chairperson of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), and representatives from various stakeholder institutions.
Representing the EACC Chief Executive Officer, Director of Ethics and Leadership John Lolkoloi underscored the importance of ethical conduct in public service, particularly as Kenya prepares to mark International Anti-Corruption Day and International Human Rights Day on 9th and 10th December.
“The two events speak to the same truth: that corruption and injustice corrode human dignity, while ethical leadership, anchored in integrity and accountability, upholds it,” Lolkoloi said.
He urged stakeholders to collectively invest in a justice system that is accessible, responsive, and efficient.
He challenged judicial officers to deliver judgments that reinforce constitutional values, particularly dignity and equality.
Lolkoloi also reiterated the EACC’s commitment to collaborating with the Judiciary to identify and seal systemic loopholes that facilitate corruption.
“Accountability efforts must always be grounded in fairness, due process, and respect for the rights of all citizens,” he added.
This year’s summit, themed “Upholding Human Dignity: Ethical Leadership as a Pillar of Constitutionalism,” aimed to promote dialogue and spur actionable reforms to strengthen ethical leadership across Kenya’s justice sector.
The EACC emphasized that the partnership with the Judiciary remains central to promoting integrity, safeguarding human dignity, and ensuring that ethical leadership underpins all aspects of governance.
“The Commission remains committed to working hand in hand with judicial and other justice sector actors to build a system that is transparent, accountable, and rooted in respect for human rights,” Lolkoloi concluded.
