The government has unveiled plans to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced digital technologies in the fight against complex corruption and financial crimes, with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) placing technology at the centre of future investigations.
The move reflects growing concern among enforcement agencies that modern crimes have become more sophisticated, often involving digital platforms, cross-border transactions and virtual assets that are difficult to track using traditional investigative methods.
Speaking during the 13th International Symposium of the Forum of State Inspections of Africa and Assimilated Institutions (FIGE) held in Djibouti, EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said African oversight and anti-corruption agencies must urgently modernise their investigative tools.
He explained that technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain systems and data-mining platforms are becoming essential in analysing large volumes of financial data and identifying suspicious patterns that may indicate corruption or fraud.
According to Mohamud, these tools are no longer optional, especially as criminals increasingly rely on complex digital financial systems and emerging technologies to hide illegal transactions.
Mohamud noted that Kenya has already made progress through ongoing digital transformation programmes, including the Digital Super Highway initiative, which aims to expand connectivity and strengthen e-government services.
He explained that increased automation in public service delivery has helped reduce opportunities for corruption by limiting direct human involvement in processes such as approvals, payments and service access.
By shifting services online and creating digital records, government institutions are better able to monitor transactions and detect irregularities early.
The EACC boss also pointed out that Kenya is among a few African countries that have introduced legal frameworks regulating virtual assets.
This, he said, allows the country to embrace new financial technologies while at the same time putting safeguards in place against money laundering, fraud and other forms of digital financial crime.
However, he warned that regulation alone is not enough, stressing that enforcement agencies must upgrade their technical capacity to effectively investigate crimes involving cryptocurrencies and complex international financial networks.
As part of its transformation agenda, the EACC has already automated more than half of its operational processes and is working towards full digitisation.
The Commission currently relies on internally developed digital systems to improve resource management and strengthen institutional controls. It also uses forensic technology to extract and analyse evidence from electronic devices during investigations.
Wider adoption of artificial intelligence is expected to improve the ability of investigators to process large datasets faster, detect unusual financial behaviour and build stronger evidence in complex cases.
Mohamud further announced that Kenya will host the Centre for Anti-Corruption Studies and Research in Africa (CEREAC), which is scheduled to be launched in June 2026.
The centre is expected to serve as a regional hub for research, training and innovation, allowing African countries to develop home-grown technological solutions to corruption and governance challenges.
He encouraged institutions across the continent to collaborate through the centre in order to strengthen investigative capacity and share knowledge on emerging threats.
The symposium itself brought together delegates from 24 African countries, as well as international partners, academics and artificial intelligence experts, to discuss both the opportunities and limitations of new digital technologies in audits, oversight and governance.
Discussions focused on how technology can enhance accountability while also ensuring ethical use and proper safeguards in public institutions.
These developments come at a time when financial intelligence and enforcement agencies in Kenya are increasingly focusing on financial crimes linked to security threats.
Recently, the Financial Reporting Centre ordered the freezing of assets belonging to 13 individuals suspected of links to terrorism financing.
Banks and other financial institutions were directed to immediately halt any transactions involving the listed individuals after they were added to Kenya’s Domestic List under anti-terrorism regulations.
The move forms part of broader efforts to disrupt illegal financial networks and protect the country’s financial system from abuse.
Analysts say the growing use of artificial intelligence and digital monitoring tools signals a major shift in how complex crimes will be investigated in the future.
Instead of relying solely on manual investigations, authorities are increasingly turning to technology to trace financial trails, uncover hidden connections and prevent crimes before they escalate.
As digital economies continue to expand, government agencies believe that combining strong regulation with advanced technology will be critical in staying ahead of sophisticated criminal networks.
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