Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire has issued a tough warning to county staff, declaring that her administration will not shield anyone found engaging in corruption.
The governor, who spoke during a consultative meeting with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Thursday, said every officer must take personal responsibility for their actions, adding that culprits should be prepared to “carry their own cross.”
“We expect services to be rendered without any demand for bribes. Anyone caught engaging in graft will face dismissal and prosecution. No one will be spared,” Mbarire cautioned.
The county chief highlighted revenue collection and the health sector as areas where corruption remains rife, noting that her government is determined to seal loopholes and ensure prudent use of resources.
As part of the reforms, the county plans to roll out a corruption-reporting hotline and set up suggestion boxes to encourage whistleblowing from the public.
The renewed anti-graft drive follows the creation of Corruption Prevention Committees (CPCs), an initiative spearheaded by the EACC to strengthen accountability within devolved units.
EACC Commissioner Col. (Rtd) Alfred Mshimba, who led the Embu meeting, said the committees would play a critical role in taking the fight against corruption closer to the people.
“We want to decentralize anti-corruption prevention so that counties can handle these challenges effectively at the local level,” he explained.
Embu becomes the second county, after Makueni, to host such consultative meetings as the EACC works to expand CPCs countrywide.
