Kenya's service commissions, EACC to develop framework for Harambee compliance

According to communication from Felix Koskei, the Head of Public Service, on Wednesday, the framework is an interim administrative state intervention until a law allowing structured, transparent contributions for public and charitable purposes is passed. 

"All the Service Commissions (Public Service Commission, Parliamentary Service Commission, Judicial Service Commission, Teachers Service Commission and Police Service Commission) in collaboration with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), will establish an institutional framework ot monitor compliance with this new government policy," a memo addressed  to all government units reads in part. 

To enforce this directive, all public officers must maintain the highest ethical standards and ensure compliance among those under their supervision. 

According to Koskei, the development will ensure that the spirit of Harambee continues to propel its noble ideals while addressing concerns about accountability and ethical conduct in the public sector. 

In late June, President Ruto promised to address the opulence and extravagance displayed by some state officials, particularly Cabinet Secretaries and MPs.

The president was responding to concerns about a group of government officials walking around in flashy clothes and carrying wads of cash to harambees.

He also revealed that he has spoken with UDA MPs, who are considering doing away with harambees, particularly in churches.

"We are actually going to do away with harambees, because when a junior state officers donates Ksh20 million in a harambee, there is something fundamentally wrong. That is wrong," Ruto asserted.

Concerns have been raised about MPs like Kapseret's Oscar Sudi distributing millions of shillings in church harambees.