Why EACC is concerned over increasing 'sophisticated' digital graft
National
By
Okumu Modachi
| Jun 18, 2026
EACC Chairperson David Oginde addresses the 8th Annual General Assembly of the African Anti-Corruption Authorities in Nairobi, on June 17, 2026. [Benard Orwongo Standard]
The anti-corruption watchdog has raised concerns over increased digital corruption as the new emerging graft trend gobbling billions of taxpayers money.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chair David Oginde said the new trend in corruption complicates efforts to trace stolen public resources that were initially disappearing in sacks. “People are no longer stealing just cash. They are stealing using digital methods,” said Oginde. “It is very difficult for us to know whether money that has been put aside will be exploited unless you try and dig that out using technology.”
Dr Oginde spoke on Wednesday during the launch of the Centre for Anti-Corruption Studies and Research in Africa at the Institute of Monetary Studies, Nairobi. The event was graced by delegates representing over 40 member states of the African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, which Kenya is a part of.
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The concerns emerge at the backdrop of an alarming trend of illicit digital financial flows that continue to exploit taxpayers.
According to a latest report by EACC, Kenyans lose Sh243 billion, equivalent to 1.5 per cent of the country’s economy through illicit financial flows. Cumulatively, the report released in September, revealed that corruption cost the economy about Sh11.2 billion while international trade misinvoicing cost the economy Sh79 billion.
His sentiments were echoed by the Attorney General Dorcus Oduor, who was the chief guest representing President William Ruto at the launch. She noted that governance challenges exacerbated by the sophisticated corruption continue to undermine public trust, weaken institutions, deter investments and divert resources away from priorities.
“Corruption has become increasingly sophisticated, technologically enabled and transnational in character. It intersects with organised criminal enterprises involved in money laundering, cybercrime, trafficking, fraud, illicit financial flows and financing of other forms of criminal activity,” she said. EACC Chairperson David Oginde, CEO Abdi Ahmed Mohamud, Attorney General Dorcas Oduor and other participants during the 8th AAACA summit in Nairobi, on June 17, 2026. [Benard Orwongo Standard]
Oginde said the institution is designed to help in research, training and technical support to agencies across the continent to tackle the menace. “The centre will enable African countries to keep pace with changing corruption trends by generating research, analysing data and developing evidence-based solutions to support good governance,” he said. “It is going to help in research on trends that people are using across the continent for corrupt deals so that you can identify, you can see red flags.”
At the same time, the EACC boss said it will support capacity building through specialised training programmes, facilitate the sharing of expertise among member states and serve as a repository of research and data on corruption in Africa.
EACC chief executive Abdi Mohamud said the centre will also be used to develop analytical tools, performance indicators and harmonised methodological frameworks in the field of governance and anticorruption using an African Corruption Perception Index to objectively assess corruption levels across member states. “The next objective is to establish and maintain a network of African anti-corruption experts based on nominations from the university.”
He said it would help in developing and publishing an annual scientific journal dedicated to the analysis of corruption phenomena in Africa and facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices among member institutions. “It will also support institutional capacity building through the development of specialised training programmes, standardisation of training curriculum and technical assistance to member states in the formulating and implementing development plans,” he said.