The Chairperson of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), David Oginde, has cautioned young people and leaders against accepting corruption as a “necessary evil,” describing it as a hidden danger that undermines Kenya’s future.
Speaking at Pan Africa Christian University (PAC) during the Kenya Leadership Integrity Forum (KLIF) Campus Edition, Oginde likened corruption to “a snake under the bed – concealed, dangerous, and capable of striking when least expected.”
Oginde urged students, faculty, and stakeholders to confront the vice collectively rather than tolerate it as part of everyday life.
“The most dangerous snake is not the one crossing the road in broad daylight. The most dangerous snake is the one hidden in the room where people believe they are safe,” Oginde said, warning that ignoring corruption is akin to allowing a snake to remain in the house because it eats rats, only for it to eventually strike.
Oginde stressed that corruption erodes public trust, weakens institutions, discourages investment, and widens inequality. He argued that leadership plays a decisive role in shaping the ethical tone of society, noting that when leaders condone wrongdoing, integrity becomes optional.
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Challenging the forum’s theme, whether corruption can be “tamed”, Oginde cautioned that language implying coexistence risks normalizing unethical practices. “Corruption does not make systems work better; it only benefits a few while damaging society,” he said, citing its impact on investor confidence, institutional efficiency, and social justice.
The EACC boss emphasized that corruption thrives when citizens lose their moral outrage, invoking the words of anti-corruption advocate John Githongo. He reminded participants that corruption requires at least two actors and flourishes when society collectively accepts unethical behavior.
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Oginde further highlighted Africa’s youthful population, innovation, and resources as a foundation for prosperity, but warned that corruption threatens to derail the continent’s potential. He insisted that combating the vice requires coordinated action among leaders, institutions, and citizens, stressing that ignoring the problem today will have long-term consequences for the nation.
The lecture brought together students, faculty, government officials, and civil society representatives under the theme: “Can we really tame corruption, or is it a necessary evil in today’s society?” Oginde concluded by urging young people to reject complacency and embrace integrity as the cornerstone of Kenya’s future.
By Masaki Enock
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