Uasin Gishu Students Challenged to Reject Corruption and Champion Integrity

By Wasike Elvis

University and college students in Uasin Gishu County have been challenged to take a leading role in fighting corruption, promoting integrity and demanding accountability from leaders and public institutions.

The call was made during a governance and integrity engagement organised by the Washington Journalists Association, which brought together students to discuss good governance, constitutional rights, civic responsibility, leadership and the effects of corruption on society.

The 12-month programme, titled Tupigane na Ufisadi (TUNU), is being implemented under the broader EU-supported project, “Strengthening Capacities of Local Civil Society to Fight Corruption.” The initiative operates through a Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) framework aimed at strengthening grassroots civil society engagement in the fight against corruption

The programme sought to equip young people with knowledge and values that can help them become responsible citizens and future leaders capable of contributing to accountable governance.

Students who participated in the engagement said the discussions had given them a better understanding of their role in society and the importance of making ethical decisions.

Mary Majimbo said she had learned the importance of governance and being accountable for one's actions.

She said young people should take responsibility for their actions, participate in public debates and prepare themselves to become responsible leaders.

Majimbo said good governance creates an environment where citizens can enjoy their rights and have their concerns addressed.

She added that learning about integrity and corruption was important because it enables young people to understand the need to do what is right and contribute towards creating a better environment for everyone.

Lydian Jambi, a student at the University of Eldoret, said the engagement had taught her that integrity is an important component of responsible leadership and citizenship.

Jambi said people could possess intelligence, education and hard work but still fail to make a positive contribution to society if they lacked integrity.

She thanked the Uasin Gishu  Journalists Association for consistently engaging young people on governance and corruption issues, saying the programmes were helping students understand their civic responsibilities and the importance of democracy.

Lucas Ndigo said poor governance can be worsened when citizens are not adequately informed about their rights and freedoms.

He said young people have a responsibility to ensure that citizens understand the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution so that they can demand accountability from leaders and institutions.

Ndigo said he would seek to apply the lessons learned from the engagement in his own leadership and encourage those he leads to do the same.

Uasin Gishu  Journalists Association Vice-Chair Edmond Kipngeno said the organisation had deliberately focused on young people because integrity values need to be developed at an early age.

Kipngeno said the association is engaging students from the University of Eldoret, Eldoret National Polytechnic and other institutions as part of a wider programme aimed at promoting integrity and good governance.

He said corruption has far-reaching consequences, including the loss of public resources and erosion of trust in institutions.

According to Kipngeno, failure to address unethical practices among young people could allow corruption to become deeply entrenched in society.

He said the organisation wants to work with young people to build a culture where integrity is valued and unethical behaviour is rejected.

“Integrity is something that has been rooted in our society, and it is very important that we involve the younger generation,” Kipngeno said.

He added that corruption affects young people in different ways, making it important for them to be part of conversations seeking solutions to the problem.

The association's Journalism programs head, Ibrahim Too, said previous engagements with young people had revealed worrying attitudes towards corruption.

Too said some young people had previously viewed corruption negatively only when they were victims, while overlooking the practice when they benefited from it.

“Last year we discovered that many young people only condemned corruption when they were the victims. If they benefited from it, they often saw nothing wrong with it. Our mission is to change that mindset because corruption hurts everyone and continues to undermine Africa's development,” Too said.

He urged young people to reject the normalisation of bribery in schools, workplaces and public offices.

Too said corruption should not be treated as an ordinary or acceptable way of accessing services, opportunities or solving problems.

He challenged students to become advocates for integrity within their institutions and communities and to use their influence to encourage others to reject unethical practices.

The association said its engagements with students had shown that corruption remains a concern affecting young people across different institutions.

Kipngeno said the challenges raised by students from the participating institutions were largely similar, demonstrating the need for continued conversations and civic education.

He said the objective was not only to teach young people about corruption but also to help them understand how unethical practices affect service delivery, opportunities and public trust.

The officials also encouraged young people to take advantage of technology and digital platforms to promote accountability.

Kipungeno noted that the current generation has unprecedented access to smartphones, the internet, artificial intelligence and digital libraries.

He said these tools can enable young people to access information, understand their rights and participate more effectively in civic affairs.

The organisers urged students to use technology responsibly by sharing credible information, educating their peers and supporting initiatives that promote transparency and accountability.

The engagement also emphasised the importance of young people participating in public debates and understanding governance processes rather than leaving civic matters solely to elected leaders.

The students were encouraged to recognise that good governance requires active participation from citizens, particularly the younger generation, which forms a significant part of Kenya's population.

The Uasin Gishu  Journalists Association said it will continue engaging learning institutions to strengthen awareness on integrity, corruption and civic responsibility.

The organisers hope that sustained engagement with young people will help challenge attitudes that normalise corruption and nurture a generation that values honesty, accountability and responsible leadership.

The students, meanwhile, said the discussions had challenged them to reflect on their own responsibilities and the role they can play in promoting good governance and integrity in Kenya.