In its 2024 report, the civil society organization accuses President William Ruto’s administration of enabling a culture of corruption, citing unchecked scandals, misuse of public funds, and excessive external borrowing.
According to the report, Kenya acquired 36 new loans in the past year alone, amounting to approximately 900 billion shillings, with minimal accountability regarding the expenditure.
A significant concern raised by AfriCOG is the erosion of public trust in anti-corruption institutions, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP). Serfine Achieng’ Ouma reports.
The report comes amid heightened scrutiny of President Ruto’s two years in office, including controversial moves such as the push for appointing Chief Administrative Secretaries, punitive tax measures, and the contentious Adani-KETRACO power transmission deal.
The deal was made amid emerging controversy surrounding the planned leasing of Kenya’s international airport to the Indian conglomerate Adani Group Holdings Limited.
AfriCOG’s report paints a grim picture of Kenya’s governance under Ruto, accusing the administration of fostering a patron-client system, where those in power protect their supporters at the expense of accountability.
In response to the administration’s handling of corruption, AfriCOG highlights several high-profile cases of questionable actions. One such case involved former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was charged in 2021 with six counts of economic crimes.