By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, 25 November 2025 - Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud has called on Kenyan youth to take greater responsibility in the fight against corruption, warning that the country cannot win the war if voters continue electing leaders with tainted integrity.
Speaking during the Youth Integrity Conference at the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) on Tuesday, Mr Mohamud said the youth – who form the largest voting bloc – must shift from blame to action and refuse to reward unethical behaviour.
“All of us agree that corruption remains one of the biggest challenges facing this country,” he said.
“But we have realised that the Commission alone cannot defeat it. The youth have a much bigger stake in the future of this country and must be active participants, not spectators.”
Mr Mohamud criticised voters for ignoring integrity warnings issued ahead of the 2022 General Election.
At the time, the EACC flagged 139 aspirants with integrity concerns and published their names in the media to alert the public.
“What happened? We went ahead and elected the majority of them,” he said.
“A few months later, the same people who put them in office are the ones crying that leaders are now embezzling public resources. The youth must take responsibility for the choices they make.”
The Commission’s boss said young people should be the first to reject bribery, refuse to sell their votes, and decline instructions from leaders who operate outside the law.
“If youth commit themselves not to receive or give bribes and not to support leaders who lack integrity, that alone will have a huge impact on the fight against corruption,” he noted.
Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs echoed the remarks, saying corruption continues to harm both the present and future generations.
He urged young people to break away from normalized unethical practices inherited from past generations.
“The chain of corruption affects us today and will affect those who come after us,” said Mr Jacobs.
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“But as young people – with energy, vision, and the courage to chart a new course – we have the opportunity to reject corruption and start anew.”
Mr Jacobs revealed that the Ministry, working with the Kenya School of Government, has designed a high-level, multi-stakeholder engagement bringing together all government and non-government youth-focused organizations.
The initiative aims to link programmes, prevent duplication and harmonize efforts in promoting integrity among the youth.
Former Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana challenged young people to use their numerical strength to influence leadership and decision-making at all levels.
“Youths often talk about leaders winning because they have money muscles,” he said.
“But you have numbers muscles, and that is even more powerful. If you organise yourselves, you can claim your space at the decision-making table.”
Prof Kibwana proposed the creation of a countrywide programme dubbed Youths Against Corruption Initiative in all 1,450 wards to mobilise communities, champion ethical leadership and monitor local governance.
“A coordinated youth movement working at grassroots level would make a huge difference in shaping our national values,” he said.
“The ball is in our court.”
Speakers at the event stressed that a corruption-free Kenya will only be possible if the country’s largest demographic, the youth, commits to value-based citizenship and rejects incentives that undermine public trust.
The Youth Integrity Conference brought together student leaders, government officials, civil society groups and governance experts to explore long-term interventions aimed at building a culture of integrity and accountability among young people.
