EACC warns accountants against using professional expertise to facilitate corruption

EACC Chairperson Dr David Oginde said professionals were increasingly implicated in corrupt practices, challenging accountants to uphold integrity and ensure their work does not enable financial wrongdoing.

Speaking on Friday at the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) Annual Seminar in Mombasa, Oginde said integrity was a personal responsibility that should guide professionals in their daily conduct.

"Integrity is not enforceable – it is a personal choice," he said, expressing concern that the specialised knowledge of professionals could be exploited to conceal corrupt dealings, making investigations more complex.

"The wickedness that's done by professionals is professionally done. It's not an easy crime for the Commission to crack," he observed.

Oginde urged accountants to resist attempts to compromise their professional judgement, citing the need for auditors to stand by their findings and accountants to maintain accurate financial records.