The Kenyan government has introduced legislation to eliminate the requirement for job applicants to obtain ethics clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) before applying for public sector positions, pending parliamentary approval.
The Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendment) Bill, 2022, would shift the responsibility of verifying candidate integrity to state agencies. Instead of applicants seeking EACC clearance upfront, ministries, parastatals, and county governments would request integrity reports for shortlisted candidates within seven days of selection.
This change aims to reduce the Sh2,500 fee currently charged for EACC clearance, along with the administrative burden of submitting documents such as notarized forms, KRA PIN certificates, and academic transcripts. EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak emphasized that the reform addresses financial barriers for first-time job seekers, noting that applicants often face costs exceeding Sh10,000 for multiple clearance requirements.
Under the proposed law, the EACC would no longer issue clearance certificates but instead provide confidential integrity reports. Recruiters would be obligated to consider these assessments when making appointment decisions, preventing agencies from bypassing the commission's recommendations.
Mbarak highlighted past instances where public entities ignored EACC advisories, such as appointing individuals through gazette notices despite integrity concerns. The bill also seeks to modernize wealth disclosure requirements, which have remained confidential since 2003, though analysts argue these restrictions have failed to curb corruption.
Separate legislation aims to lift access restrictions on public officials' financial disclosures, including assets of the president and vice president. Investigations have uncovered unexplained wealth among senior civil servants, prompting calls for greater transparency in public office holders' financial records.
