By Erestinah Jane | July 7, 2026
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has defended its performance in the fight against corruption, with Deputy Director Dr. Susan Kinyeki insisting the agency remains effective despite persistent public criticism and the increasingly sophisticated nature of financial crimes.
Speaking during an interview , Dr. Kinyeki rejected claims that the anti-graft commission had become ineffective, arguing that its work continues to play a critical role in protecting public resources.
“A toothless dog is a dog nevertheless. We have all this corruption, and EACC is there. Imagine if it were not there. EACC is very vibrant to the extent that Kenyans trust us,” she said.
Her remarks come amid growing public concern over the pace of corruption investigations and prosecutions, with many Kenyans questioning whether existing institutions are doing enough to curb the misuse of public funds.
Addressing concerns over lengthy legal processes and the perception that anti-corruption efforts have stalled, Kinyeki said corruption networks had become increasingly sophisticated, requiring law enforcement agencies to continually adapt to emerging technologies and financial systems.
“I don’t think it’s a disconnect. It is about the corrupt being innovative. Today you are thinking about M-Pesa, but they have already gone to cryptocurrency. We still require a change of culture,” she said.
She also pointed to Kenya’s inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in February 2024 as evidence of the challenges facing the country’s financial oversight systems, particularly regarding illicit financial flows and unexplained wealth.
“It is unfortunate that as of the 24th of February 2024, Kenya was grey-listed. The reason was that we seem to have money that cannot be accounted for,” Kinyeki said.
Kinyeki stressed that the fight against corruption cannot be left to a single institution, calling for stronger collaboration among investigative, prosecutorial and financial oversight agencies.
“What we need is a whole of country approach… we have the CBK, we have the DCI, we have the ODPP, we have the EACC, and also we have the national government as it were,” she said.
According to the Commission, its recent performance demonstrates continued progress in asset recovery and investigations despite operational challenges. EACC says it recovered KSh3.4 billion worth of public assets during the last financial year and completed 89 high-profile corruption investigations over the past eight months.
The Commission maintains that these recoveries form part of broader efforts to safeguard public resources, strengthen accountability and close loopholes that facilitate embezzlement, particularly within county governments.
Kinyeki appealed to Kenyans to support anti-corruption initiatives by reporting suspected graft and working with oversight institutions, arguing that meaningful progress requires sustained public participation alongside institutional reforms.
Her remarks come as the EACC continues to pursue high-profile corruption cases and recover public assets through both civil litigation and criminal investigations, underscoring the government’s broader efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in public service.
