EACC warns accountants against using professional skills to facilitate corruption

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has cautioned accountants and other professionals against utilizing their specialized skills to enable corruption, emphasizing that these skills can make illicit activities harder to detect and investigate. EACC Chairperson Dr. David Oginde addressed accountants at the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) Annual Seminar in Mombasa, urging them to maintain integrity and ensure their expertise is not utilized to conceal financial misconduct.

Oginde underscored that integrity is a personal responsibility for professionals and stressed that professionals should resist any attempts that may compromise their professional judgment, especially when managing financial records and performing audits. He highlighted that the commission finds it difficult to combat corruption due to the sophisticated methods employed by professionals in corrupt activities.

The commission's concern is that the misuse of professional knowledge to disguise corrupt activities poses a significant challenge for anti-graft agencies. Oginde challenged accountants to uphold their professional integrity, even when faced with discomforting audit findings or the temptation to manipulate figures. He cautioned that remaining silent when corruption is observed only facilitates its continuation.

Furthermore, Oginde called for increased moral courage among professionals and the public, asserting that meaningful societal change necessitates individuals willing to challenge wrongdoing irrespective of the perpetrator. He posed a question to Kenyans, asking why Kenya cannot be developed to attract international talent and investment, similar to the United States or Singapore.

ICPAK Chairperson Prof. Elizabeth Kalunda echoed the EACC's stance, reaffirming the institute's dedication to combating corruption and pledged to collaborate with the EACC to promote integrity, accountability, and good governance within the accounting profession. She also announced that ICPAK would present a report at its upcoming summit detailing the progress made by members in maintaining ethical conduct and fighting corruption.