The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of Kenya has announced a new strategic partnership with South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU), a move that marks a major step forward in the regional fight against corruption.
The partnership aims to boost cooperation between the two countries as they tackle graft cases that go beyond national borders.
In a statement issued on Thursday, August 14, EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud confirmed the collaboration during an official visit by the SIU delegation to the EACC headquarters at the Integrity Centre in Nairobi.
While receiving the visiting team, Mohamud highlighted that cross-border cooperation is vital if African countries are to win the war against corruption.
“The fight against corruption knows no boundaries. Through strategic partnerships such as this, we strengthen our collective capacity to safeguard public resources, uphold integrity, and restore public trust,” said Mohamud.
The South African delegation was led by Andy Mothibi, the Head and Chief Executive Officer of the SIU and also Vice President of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA).
Mothibi praised the partnership, describing it as a great opportunity for both countries to learn from each other and build even stronger systems within the region.
“This is a valuable platform for benchmarking, exchanging best practices, and strengthening partnerships across Commonwealth Africa. We are excited to work closely with the EACC,” Mothibi stated.
Key Areas of Cooperation Between Kenya and South Africa
The two nations agreed to focus on several critical areas that will enhance their joint anti-corruption efforts. These include:
- Capacity Building – improving skills and expertise of staff
- Joint Training – carrying out training programs together
- Exchange of Technical Expertise – sharing technology and skills
- Staff Development Opportunities
- Collaborative Research – working together on studies and investigations
In addition to these efforts, both countries agreed to create a formal structure that will allow them to keep engaging, sharing knowledge, and supporting one another regularly.
Other Countries Kenya Has Partnered With to Fight Corruption
This partnership is not Kenya’s first effort to work with other nations to curb corruption. Since 2003, Kenya has been working with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which has assisted the country in handling major corruption cases, recovering stolen assets, and involving civil society organizations in oversight.
In May 2024, Kenya hosted a high-level regional conference attended by member states such as Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Somalia.
The meeting focused on key issues like asset recovery, protection of whistleblowers, transparency in procurement processes, and encouraging private sector involvement in the anti-corruption campaign.
Kenya has continuously shown commitment to fighting corruption by putting in place tough regulations and policies aimed at increasing transparency, promoting accountability, and protecting public resources.
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