The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in Kenya is advocating for the automation of wealth declaration systems as part of efforts to combat corruption and conflict of interest in the public service. EACC Chairperson Dr. David Oginde stated that digitizing the Declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities (DIALs) process would enhance the management of wealth declarations. This move aims to make it easier for authorities to monitor the financial interests of public officers.
Dr. Oginde emphasized that the proposed system should enable secure sharing of information across public service digital platforms. This would strengthen oversight and prevent officers from using their positions for personal gain. According to Oginde, the highest number of corruption cases dealt with by EACC result from conflict of interest. He noted that addressing this issue would eliminate 90% of corruption cases.
Dr. Oginde made these remarks in Naivasha, Nakuru County, during the official opening of a two-day capacity-building workshop. The workshop focused on developing mechanisms for the Public Service Commission (PSC) to automate the DIALs process. The initiative aims to make wealth declarations more efficient, secure, and accessible.
PSC Chairperson Francis Meja highlighted the necessity of automation given the growing use of technology and Artificial Intelligence in public service. He noted that wealth declaration form automation should be straightforward in the era of AI. Meja mentioned that retrieving specific DIALs forms from over 300,000 records can be challenging.
Meja emphasized that the proposed system would provide an integrated and secure platform for managing wealth declarations. This would make the retrieval of records easier. The move aligns with the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, which strengthened the framework governing conflicts of interest and financial disclosures in the public service.
The EACC and PSC are now seeking to leverage digital systems to improve compliance with wealth declaration requirements. This aims to strengthen preventive measures against corruption. The automation of wealth declarations is expected to enhance transparency and accountability in the public service.
The capacity-building workshop brought together the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and members of the PSC. The workshop focused on developing mechanisms for automating the DIALs process. This initiative is a significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability in the public service.
Key points
- EACC seeks to automate wealth declaration systems to combat corruption and conflict of interest.
- Automation aims to make wealth declarations more efficient, secure, and accessible.
- Proposed system will enable secure sharing of information across public service digital platforms.
