The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission was asked to explain why it wanted to spend Sh1.5 billion for the renovation of its headquarters.

Senior EACC officials before the Senate Finance and Budget Committee for presentation of the 2025 Budget Policy Statement, were at pains to explain why they required more funding in the coming financial year.

Committee chairman Ali Roba, who is also Mandera Senator asked the EACC to break down the details of the Sh1.5 billion renovation for the Integrity Centre. Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka wondered why would EACC want to use such a huge amount of money on renovation instead of using Sh500 million for a new building.

“Why should EACC use Sh1.5 billion to renovate its headquarters instead of just using some Sh500 million to construct a new building? These are some of the reasons making us to be reserved over request for more allocation to the commission’s budget,” said Onyonka.

Mombasa Senator Mohammed Faki wondered why EACC has not worked on most of the recommendations made by the Senate on how to handle corruption cases, especially in county governments in the last 10 years.

EACC Director in charge of Field Services and Coordination Jackson Mue told the committee that the commission had estimated Sh828 million to renovate the building and Sh122 million already used so far with a balance of Sh705 million required to complete it.

Mue said the Sh1.5 billion was for automation of EACC business processes with the actual cost used in the project by the end of last year being Sh19.3 million with the remaining amount not allocated for in the budget for financial 2025/2026.

“EACC completed 103 cases and files forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions with appropriate recommendations and provided 53 advisories to Ministries, Departments and Agencies on prevention of Bribery and Corruption,” said Mue.