The fight against corruption in Kenya has taken a startling new turn, according to Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairperson, Bishop Dr. David Oginde. In a candid and controversial address, the Bishop revealed that while women are often seen as the victims of petty bribery at the lower levels of society, they have moved into the “driver’s seat” when it comes to the country’s most massive financial heists.
From Victims to Drivers
Bishop Oginde highlighted a worrying shift in the corruption landscape, noting that the gender dynamics of “eating” public funds are changing. While the general public often interacts with “small fish” corruption—like the Sh500 or Sh1,000 bribes paid to traffic police or magistrates—the mega scandals involving billions of shillings tell a different story. “At the lower levels, they are the victims,” the Bishop noted, “but at the higher levels, unfortunately, they are at the driver’s seat and facilitators of mega corruption.”
The “Receipts”: NYS to Edible Oils
To back up his claims, the EACC boss pointed to some of the most infamous sagas in recent Kenyan history. He specifically cited the National Youth Service (NYS) trials, where a significant number of women were at the center of the legal proceedings. He also referenced the KEMSA 1 and 2 scandals and the more recent Edible Oil saga as prime examples where women were not just involved, but were the primary facilitators. This trend, he suggests, is a major departure from the traditional view of women as the more ethical gender in public service.
The Rise of “Family-Based” Collusion
Perhaps the most “Gist-worthy” part of the Bishop’s speech was his focus on family-based corruption. The EACC is increasingly seeing cases where husbands and wives, or parents and their children, collude to siphon public funds. This domestic partnership in crime is a reality the Bishop says we must confront, even if it didn’t fully surface in recent surveys. He joked about his bold stance, even lightheartedly suggesting he might be denied Holy Communion this Sunday by his fellow clergy for speaking so bluntly about the issue.
The EACC is tired of chasing the “small fish” and Sh100,000 cases—which the Bishop called a “waste of time” compared to the billions being stolen. With women now being named as the key players in Kenya’s biggest scandals, the narrative of “the fairer sex” is being rewritten by the charge sheets at Integrity Centre.
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