Mount Kenya University has entered into a strategic partnership with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), aimed at leveraging the innovation, creativity and energy of young people to foster a strong culture of integrity and ethical leadership across the country.
Speaking during the engagement, MKU Founder and Chairman, Prof. Simon Gicharu, commended EACC’s evolving approach, noting a positive shift toward preventive measures such as integrity training and awareness creation, rather than focusing solely on enforcement. He emphasised the importance of embedding ethics and integrity within the education system, particularly through Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), where values can be instilled at an early age.
According to Prof. Gicharu, introducing integrity education at both primary and secondary school levels makes it easier for learners to internalise ethical values and carry them into adulthood. He noted that nurturing integrity from a young age would cultivate a responsible and self-regulating generation.
“I look forward to a future where schools and universities will not require examination invigilators because learners will have embraced ethics and integrity to the extent that they can regulate themselves. This would be a great vision which should happen one day,” Prof. Gicharu said.
Prof. Gicharu further highlighted that the MKU–EACC partnership will play a pivotal role in advancing integrity training nationwide. He added that MKU will leverage its resources, including its media affiliate, TV47, to amplify awareness campaigns and promote the values of good governance and responsible citizenship.
MKU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to mainstreaming integrity within academic programmes. He said that integrity could be a common unit that every student must take, and members of the community as well could be engaged through student-driven engagements.”
How will MKU and EACC collaborate?
He further noted that MKU and EACC will jointly develop a comprehensive course on integrity, which will be accessible not only to students but also to the broader Kenyan community.
The EACC delegation was led by the Commission’s Vice-Chairperson, Commissioner Dr Monica W. Muiru, who conveyed apologies from Commission Chair Dr David Oginde. The delegation also included Commissioner Col. Rtd. Alfred M. Mshimba and other officials.
During the engagement, the Commission highlighted the Kenya Integrity Leadership Forum (KILF), an initiative designed to create a platform for dialogue on integrity within universities. The forum brings together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to engage young people, who constitute a significant demographic in the fight against corruption.
EACC emphasised the importance of targeting universities as hubs of innovation and research, encouraging students to explore and develop solutions around integrity and good governance. The Commission reiterated its commitment to reducing tolerance for corruption by empowering youth to speak out and uphold ethical standards.
“We are working with young people in universities to advance integrity, based on the understanding that values are best inculcated early. Our goal is to build a generation that believes in ethical conduct and understands that integrity is not a barrier to success, but a foundation for it,” Dr Monica W. Muiru noted.
As part of this collaboration, MKU and EACC will roll out a series of joint initiatives, including a major public forum scheduled for June 2026 at the Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre. The forum is expected to bring together key stakeholders to advance dialogue on integrity and governance.
This partnership marks a significant step toward building a value-driven society, with a focus on empowering youth as champions of integrity. By extending its impact beyond lecture halls into communities, the collaboration is poised to contribute meaningfully to national development and the fight against corruption.
