BOB AMALEMBA
June 9, 2026| The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has issued a stern warning to cartels operating in the sugar sector who demand bribes from farmers before their cane can be harvested and transported to factories for milling.
Speaking in Kakamega during a public sensitisation campaign on corruption reporting mechanisms, EACC Western Regional Manager Eric Ngumbi (pictured) said the commission had received numerous complaints from sugarcane farmers who are allegedly forced to part with money to access harvesting and transport services.
Ngumbi regretted that such cartels had taken advantage of vulnerable farmers for personal gain.
“We received numerous complaints and moved with speed to address the concern. We have since met sugar millers across western Kenya and assisted them to draft and domesticate policies in line with the Anti-Bribery Act to curb such vices,” he said.
The Anti-Bribery Act, which was assented to in December 2016 and came into force in January 2017, was enacted to prevent, investigate and punish bribery in both public and private institutions.
The law requires organisations to establish procedures to prevent corruption and protects whistleblowers who report graft.
It also places a duty on entities to report suspected bribery cases.Ngumbi noted that compliance with anti-bribery regulations is mandatory for both public and private institutions and urged employers to ensure their workers are aware of the provisions of the law.
He spoke during a road sensitisation exercise where EACC officers engaged members of the public after paying a courtesy call on Kakamega County officials.According to Ngumbi, citizens need adequate information to actively participate in governance and hold institutions accountable.
At the county headquarters, Kakamega County Secretary Dr Lawrence Omuhaka welcomed the initiative, saying corruption directly affects service delivery.
“If left unchecked, corruption can result in hospitals lacking drugs, schools lacking basic equipment and a breakdown in government services,” said Omuhaka.
Besides fighting bribery, EACC has also intensified efforts to recover illegally acquired public land in western Kenya.
Over the years, the commission has successfully reclaimed several prime government properties in Kakamega, including parcels that had been irregularly allocated to private individuals. Some of the recovered land has created room for the Affordable Housing Programme and expansion of public offices in the Milimani area.
Last year, the anti-graft agency also recovered public land worth Sh20 million in Kakamega Municipality that had originally been reserved for civil servants’ housing after a court declared the allocation illegal.
Ngumbi urged residents to remain vigilant and report corruption cases, saying the fight against graft can only succeed through collaboration between the public and oversight agencies.
“The war against corruption is everyone’s responsibility. Citizens should not fear reporting wrongdoing because corruption robs communities of development and essential services,” he said.