11 Jul 2024

With corruption singled out as one of the biggest challenges facing the African continent, costing an estimated 25 percent of Africa’s collective national income, and approximately US$148 billion each year, anti-corruption advocates in Kenya gathered to observe this year's African Anti-Corruption Day, under the theme “Effective Whistleblower Protection Mechanisms: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption.

Convened by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Kenya Leadership and Integrity Forum (KLIF), the forum brought together stakeholders including Global Compact Network Kenya led by Executive Director, Judy Njino who called upon member states across Africa to establish and enhance national mechanisms for whistleblower protection.

In her address, Ms. Njino noted emerging good practices from the Kenyan private sector in addressing corruption risks such as strengthening the tone at the top by publicly committing to the Code of Ethics for Business in Kenya, setting up whistleblower policies, investing in anonymous independent reporting channels, conducting training and awareness among others.

Further, she called upon the Private Sector to engage in anti-corruption collective action initiatives to level the playing field for all stakeholders and to consolidate knowledge, financial and technical resources to achieve greater impact.

On their part, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Dr. David Oginde and Twalib Mobarak respectively called on state, non-state actors and Kenyans at large to play their part in weeding out corruption while emphasizing the importance of strengthening the key Anti-corruption legislations such as the conflict-of-interest and whistleblower protection bills to enhance good governance.