The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has called for major constitutional and legislative changes to tighten the vetting of candidates ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
The proposals, presented on March 5, 2026, to the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) led by Bernard Kitur (Nandi Hills), aim to close gaps in enforcing Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity.
EACC CEO Abdi Ahmed Mohamud told lawmakers that the commission plays a critical role in assessing the integrity of individuals seeking elective office and often receives verification requests from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) during candidate registration.
Mohamud highlighted key disqualification grounds under the Constitution and laws, including corruption and economic crime convictions, misuse of public office, bankruptcy, and failure to meet ethical and educational standards.
A major concern raised was the absence of statutory timelines for processing integrity checks.
“There are no statutory timelines within which the IEBC should submit the details of the candidates in an election to EACC for integrity verification. Neither does the law impose any timeline within which EACC is to provide the integrity vetting report on the candidates to the IEBC,” Mohamud said.
The CEO revealed that in the 2017 General Election, the commission vetted 16,182 candidates, flagging 106 over integrity concerns, while in 2022, it processed 21,863 candidates and flagged 241.
He identified Articles 99(3) and 193(3) of the Constitution as major obstacles, noting that they prevent the enforcement of integrity standards until all appeals or reviews of convictions are exhausted.
“These two constitutional provisions are the biggest hindrance to enforcing ethical, moral and integrity requirements for candidates in an election,” Mohamud said.
He added, “The two provisions should be amended so that the person remains disqualified until the conviction, sentence or decision has been successfully appealed against or reviewed.”
Mohamud also warned that offenders exploit these provisions indefinitely. “Persons who have been convicted or found to have violated the constitution will always abuse the constitutional provision by filing an appeal or review, which remains in abeyance indefinitely.”
Lawmakers questioned the EACC chief on the growing trend of public servants engaging in early political campaigns. John Mukunji of Manyatta asked if such activities violate constitutional requirements on political neutrality and whether investigations are ongoing.
Mohamud clarified that while senior officials like Cabinet Secretaries and County Executive Committee Members can participate in politics, the exemption does not extend to Principal Secretaries, Chief Officers, and other public servants, who must remain neutral.
The CEO further noted that the issue has been highlighted in national discussions, including the Building Bridges Initiative and NADCO talks, but no concrete solutions have been implemented.
To address this, the EACC is proposing clear statutory timelines for integrity verification and formal institutional arrangements for timely information sharing between relevant agencies.
The commission said the reforms are intended to strengthen electoral readiness and ensure that only candidates who meet integrity requirements are cleared to contest the 2027 General Elections.
“It is important for all stakeholders who play various roles in ensuring integrity in the general election to collaborate and coordinate their strategies for synergy,” the memorandum read.
