The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has urged young Kenyans to reject handouts and consider integrity when choosing leaders in the 2027 General Election.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said voters have a responsibility to elect leaders who will safeguard public resources and uphold accountability.
Speaking during the 2026 Senior Leaders Breakfast Meeting themed ‘Leading With Integrity in Challenging Times’, Mohamud said young people should take the lead in demanding ethical leadership ahead of the August 10, 2027 election.
He warned that accepting handouts in exchange for political support could leave voters with less leverage to demand accountability from elected leaders.
“It is ourselves. It’s everyone. It is the youth who are actually complaining, to ensure that they don’t receive handouts in order to vote in individuals who will end up stealing from everyone around.”
Mohamud said the EACC flags individuals it considers unsuitable for election, but stressed that the ultimate responsibility for deciding who gets elected rests with citizens.
He said Kenya’s Constitution provides a framework for ethical leadership through Chapter Six, which is dedicated to leadership and integrity.
The chapter sets out principles including personal integrity, accountability, transparency and service to the public interest.
However, Mohamud added that the constitutional framework alone cannot guarantee an ethical society because integrity ultimately depends on individual conduct.
“You can’t enforce integrity. You can’t tell someone how to live. We can enforce codes when it comes to ethics, but you can’t enforce integrity.”
He questioned why Kenyans can demand integrity from public officials while struggling to apply similar standards to their own conduct.
The EACC has continued to emphasise the role of citizens in protecting the integrity of the electoral process. In September, the commission also warned against the use of illicit funds in campaigns, saying money obtained through corruption could distort voters’ choices and create pressure on elected leaders to reward financiers through public resources.
The IEBC has formally set August 10, 2027 as the date for the next General Election, with preparations and statutory timelines already underway.
Mohamud’s message places voters, particularly young people, at the centre of efforts to promote ethical leadership as Kenya moves towards the next election.
