LSK Goes After Corrupt Politicians in Landmark Integrity Petition

The Law Society of Kenya has filed a petition that seeks to compel several government agencies to strictly enforce consequences for corrupt public officials, as enshrined in the Constitution.
In the petition, LSK seeks to compel the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) to uphold the provisions ofChapter 6 on Leadership and Integrity.
This chapter outlines the fundamental principles and code of conduct for all elected individuals and state and public officers.
Specifically, the petition seeks to strip all benefits granted to any state official proven to be in breach of Chapter 6 of the Constitution.
LSK also wants the court to say that Kenyans have the right and duty to report dishonest politicians before they are allowed to join elections. Anyone can give information about corrupt leaders before the IEBC puts their names on the ballot.
“The petitioner prays for a declaration that Kenyans have a duty to exercise their right to provide information on the lack of integrity of individuals seeking or presently holding elective public office before their names are admitted by the 1 Respondent (IEBC) to go on a ballot box,” the petition read in part.
LSK wants any information about a politician’s lack of honesty, shared with the five government agencies, to be accepted as evidence if it is shown to be true.
Furthermore, LSK says if a public officialacts or speaks in a dishonest waywhen dealing with these agencies, this should be enough to block them from holding a political job.
The lobby also wants any report against a politician or public officer to be checked within 20 days. If the agencies do not do this, the information will be taken as true.
LSK further wants officials who go against the Integrity Act to stop getting paid immediately and not receive any money from the government.
The petition will be mentioned for further directions on September 29.
Just last month, the President called for an end to corruption in Parliament, accusing legislators of demanding bribes from state officials and governors to influence outcomes.