Effectiveness of Institutional Anti-Corruption Strategies on Prosecution of Corruption Cases in Public Sector in Kenya

The effectiveness of institutional anti-corruption strategies in enhancing the prosecution of corruption cases in Kenya. It focused on how these strategies influence the capacity of relevant agencies—such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and the Judiciary—to investigate, charge, and convict offenders. The research explored existing mechanisms, institutional challenges, and the perceived outcomes of anti-corruption initiatives, providing insights into their impact on governance, public trust, and social justice. The study employed a descriptive research design targeting institutional actors directly involved in anti-corruption activities. A total of 600 stakeholders formed the target population, with a sample size of 234 respondents selected using Krejcie and Morgan’s formula, along with 30 purposively selected key informants. A mixed-methods approach was utilized, involving structured questionnaires for quantitative data and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) for qualitative data. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis and were presented narratively to complement the quantitative results. The study revealed that corruption remains a deeply rooted challenge in Kenya, significantly affecting governance, public service delivery, and economic development. Despite the presence of institutional frameworks, prosecution of corruption is hampered by political interference, poor coordination among agencies, inadequate protection for whistleblowers, and weak enforcement of laws. Public perception highlights corruption as a structural and moral crisis linked to poverty, inequality, and impunity. The study recommends the establishment of a special anti-corruption court and an autonomous investigative police unit under the EACC, free from political interference and adequately resourced. Parliament should introduce legislative reforms to include asset recovery provisions, reverse the burden of proof in serious corruption cases, and bar convicted individuals from public office. Additionally, nationwide civic education campaigns are necessary to shift societal attitudes and promote a culture of integrity. Lastly, a continuous monitoring and evaluation framework should be adopted to assess the implementation and effectiveness of anti-corruption strategies and to enable timely improvements.