EACC pushes automation of wealth declarations to curb conflict of interest

Nairobi, Kenya witnessed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) pushing for the automation of public officials' wealth declarations and the integration of government digital platforms on October 1st, 2023. The EACC Chairperson, Dr. David Oginde, emphasized the need for stronger digital systems to more effectively scrutinize declarations of income, assets, and liabilities, as well as improve the sharing of information across public institutions.

In Naivasha, Nakuru County, Oginde opened a two-day capacity-building workshop aimed at developing mechanisms for the Public Service Commission (PSC) to automate the Declaration of Income, Assets, and Liabilities (DIALs) process. This digital system would replace manual processes with a more efficient and secure alternative. Oginde highlighted conflict of interest as a significant corruption risk, stating that preventing public officials from using their positions for personal gain could significantly reduce corruption cases.

He pointed out that the EACC deals with the majority of corruption cases stemming from conflict of interest, suggesting that automation would strengthen preventive oversight by allowing institutions to securely access and share information needed to identify potential conflicts of interest.

PSC Chairperson Francis Meja echoed Oginde's sentiments, stating that the push for automation of wealth declarations is timely as the government increasingly adopts technology and artificial intelligence in public services. Meja noted that the current volume of records makes the manual system particularly challenging, citing the difficulty of retrieving individual declarations from over 300,000 forms.

The proposed digital platform aims to provide a secure, user-centered mechanism for managing wealth declarations, facilitating compliance, transparency, and improved oversight. This initiative aligns with the implementation of the Conflict of Interest Act 2025, which strengthens Kenya's legal framework for managing conflicts of interest and financial disclosures among public officers.