Lawmakers during a debate in Parliament/ parliament.go.ke
NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 18 – Corrupt civil servants are set to be barred from vying for political seats or holding public office in a new bill currently before Parliament.
The bill dubbed The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes (Amendment) Bill motioned by Moiben MP Silas Tiren is currently at the debate stage and is aimed at curbing corruption in public service.
Targeted public servants include managers, chief executives and directors of public institutions who will now be held responsible for running down their institutions.
“A person who is convicted of an offence of corruption or economic crime and who was involved in the management of a public company, institution or state organ that suffered pecuniary loss as a result of the corruption or economic crime, shall be personally liable for such loss,” reads the Bill.
Persons convicted of an offense under the act will also be barred from holding office as a civil servant.
According to the bill, corruption under the law includes embezzlement of public funds for personal gain.
The proposed bill has also given the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) the Authority to publish the names of those disqualified from assuming public offices in the Kenya Gazette at least once a year.
Those who aid in running down public institutions will also face the same terms.
“A person who is personally liable is jointly and severally liable in respect of losses incurred by the public company, institution or state organ with any other person who is so liable,” it adds.
The current law provides that a person convicted of graft or an economic crime shall be disqualified from being elected or appointed as a public officer for 10 years after the conviction.
Currently, public officers who occasion or oversee the loss of public funds are precluded from taking individual responsibility as they pass on the baton to their successors under the doctrine of collective responsibility.
Currently, a majority of individuals who have been accused of running down government institutions have a free will to secure refuge by vying for political seats to protect their ill acquired wealth.
