Regional anti-graft czars get Sh150m from Sweden

Swedish ambassador to Kenya Johan Borgstam (centre) and Sweden Embassy head of regional development cooperation section Karin Andersson chats with Mr Mumo Matemu, the chairman of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, who is also president of East African Association of Anti-corruption Authorities on September 26, 2014, in Nairobi. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE |

By  NATION REPORTER

What you need to know:

  • The financing will be under the care of the East African Association of Anti-corruption Authorities.
  • An annual general meeting of the regional association is expected to be held in Nairobi from November 17 to 20 this year.

The fight against corruption in the region got a boost after the Swedish Government donated Sh150 million to the watchdogs.

The financing will be under the care of the East African Association of Anti-corruption Authorities and will be spread out over three years.

The money would be used to improve the capabilities of anti-corruption commissions in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi and Djibouti.

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It would also be instrumental in improving research on corruption, harmonisation of laws and policies within the region on the vice and strengthening the secretariat in Kampala, Uganda.

EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION

Mr Johan Borgstam, the Ambassador of Sweden to Kenya hosted the president of authorities, Mr Mumo Matemu, together with the association’s general secretary, Ms Rukia Nambozo, at the Embassy of Sweden on Friday where an agreement of cooperation was signed.

“We take cognizance of the effects of corruption on the economies of the region. Therefore, we are optimistic that this support will provide the impetus to enable the organisation realise its mandate of fighting corruption in the region,” Mr Borgstam said.

This comes as the East African Bribery Index 2013, conducted in the five East African Community States, ranked Rwanda the least corrupt country while Uganda the most corrupt in the region.

In addition, local authorities and police in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and the Judiciary in Burundi take the largest share of bribes, the index showed.

“Corruption is a threat to lives and security. Our main strategy is to work with the citizens of the region to push for zero tolerance to corruption. We will also work with the youth closely to sensitise that ending corruption is everyone’s responsibility,” Mr Matemu, who is also the chairman Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission of Kenya, said.

PROVIDES PLATFORM

An annual general meeting of the regional association is expected to be held in Nairobi from November 17 to 20 this year.

The East African Association of Anti-corruption Authorities provides a platform for the national agencies to share information, best practices, offer each other mutual legal and technical assistance among others in preventing and combating corruption.

It was formed in September 2007 in Kampala, Uganda.

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