The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission launched the Second Regional Anti-Corruption Outreach Clinics in Machakos on 25th March 2010 and in Kitui districts on 31st March 2010. The outreach programme provides an opportunity for KACC to interact with the public so as to listen to the peoples’ ideas and suggestions on how best the war against corruption can be fought. The first outreach programme was inaugurated last year in Trans-Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and Kisumu districts from 29th November to 9th December 2009. The Commission hopes to transverse the entire country reaching out to the general public who are the most vulnerable people affected by corruption.

The Outreach programme is aimed at achieving the following objectives:

1. Conduct public education and training on anti-corruption, ethics, integrity and governance;
2. Conduct civic education to empower local communities to participate in public affairs in the areas mentioned above;
3. Offer advisory and advocacy services to the public on anti-corruption and governance issues and concerns; and
4. Enhance reporting of cases of corruption by the public.

It is envisaged that advisory and advocacy activities of this programme will educate citizens on their basic rights and responsibilities in the governance process. Through this programme, local communities will be able to appreciate their roles as citizens in the anti-corruption process. They will not only seek to jealously guard against violations of their entitlements, but also take up their respective duties and responsibilities aimed at improving governance in Kenya.

Corruption is a very serious scourge in society as well as being a long standing governance issue that Kenya must address effectively if we are to realize the goals and objectives of the County’s development blueprint, Kenya Vision 2030 and the Millennium Development Goals.

Systemic corruption in Kenya has created scandals and impaired the ability of the Government to serve its people effectively. The effects of corruption do not discriminate against regions, colour, race, tribe or even political or economic groups. They affect the entire society.

Given these debilitating effects, everybody in society must be involved in the fight against corruption. Stakeholders in governance and anti-corruption processes such as the public and private sectors, civil society organizations, media and citizens must, therefore, work together to comprehensively address the problem of corruption. The need for stakeholders’ participation and collaboration has been underscored by a number of legal and policy instruments such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption, African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, National Anti-Corruption Plan and Kenya Vision 2030.

The Regional Outreach programme is intended to achieve the following:

• Better understanding of the phenomenon of corruption by the public;
• Well-informed public about the functions and achievements of the Commission;
• Enhanced visibility and accessibility of the Commission;
• Proactive and meaningful public participation and enhanced organizational capacity in public affairs;
• Improved service delivery at the grassroots level;
• Public social solidarity against corruption;
• Change of attitude and behaviour about corruption; and
• Enhanced reporting of corruption cases.