The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has issued a grave warning about the pervasive issue of theft of public funds within the nation's digitised revenue systems.
The commission has expressed its concern that integrated revenue management systems, intended to enhance efficiency and accountability, are increasingly manipulated to divert public funds into the hands of private individuals through a network of collusion involving Governors, senior county officials, and companies responsible for providing revenue management services.
"Whereas deployment of integrated revenue management systems in our counties is aimed at enhancing efficiency and accountability, the systems are increasingly being manipulated to divert public funds to private individuals through collusion involving Governors, senior county officials, and companies providing the revenue management service," the EACC stated.
This alarming trend in the automated misappropriation of public funds has raised serious questions about the integrity of revenue management systems in counties across Kenya.
The commission's investigation has revealed that contracts for revenue management systems often have inherent corruption, which ranges from irregular tender awards that disproportionately favour entities connected to county officials to fraudulent activities within the automated systems themselves.
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"In this emerging pattern of automated looting of public funds, contracts for revenue management systems are designed with inbuilt corruption ranging from irregular tender awards favouring entities linked to county officials to fraudulent dealings within the automated systems," the commission said.
The EACC has disclosed that in some counties, the entire control of revenue systems has been handed over to private entities.
In stark contrast, other counties have reported instances where senior officials are running parallel revenue systems alongside the official ones.
Perhaps even more concerning are reports pointing to senior county officials altering revenue data within these systems to divert funds directly into private bank accounts, completely bypassing public oversight.
"In some counties, the revenue systems are entirely controlled by private entities while in others, officials run parallel revenue systems. Reports also point to senior county officials altering revenue data to divert funds to private bank accounts," EACC revealed.
The issue has raised serious concerns, particularly in Nairobi, Kilifi, Kajiado, and Narok counties, where county governments have exhibited significant accountability deficits within their revenue management systems.
In these regions, the theft of public funds through digital means has become a pressing concern, threatening the financial stability and transparency of local governance.
In response to these distressing findings, the EACC has vowed to take appropriate action in line with its mandate to combat corruption and ensure that public funds are utilized for their intended purposes, rather than being funneled into the pockets of a select few.
"The Commission is taking appropriate action in accordance with its mandate," the commission declared.
The commission's bid to restoring transparency and accountability in Kenya's digitised revenue systems could have a significant impact on the nation's ongoing fight against corruption.
