Remarks by Mumo Matemu, MBS, President of the East Africa Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (EAAACA), during the Joint Opening of the 8 th

Transcription

1 Remarks by Mumo Matemu, MBS, President of the East Africa Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (EAAACA), during the Joint Opening of the 8 th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the East Africa Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (EAAACA) and the 1 st AGM of the Asset Recovery Inter-agency Network for East Africa (ARIN-EA) held at the Windsor Hotel, Nairobi Kenya from 17 th -20 th November

2 Our Guest of Honour, Prof. Githu Muigai, FCIArb, EGH, SC, the Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya; Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies from EAAACA Member States; General Secretary of EAAACA, Ms. Rukia Nambozo; Dignitaries from the Government of the Republic of Kenya present; President of ARIN-EA, Ms. Kossy Bor; Members of Diplomatic Corps; Invited Guests; Representatives of our Development Partners; Ladies and Gentlemen, 2

3 It gives me great honour and pleasure to welcome you this morning as we officially open the joint forum of the 8 th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the East African Association of Anti- Corruption Authorities (EAAACA) and the 1 st AGM of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for East Africa (ARIN-EA). From the very onset, allow me to register my deep appreciation to all our invited guests present for accepting our invitation and finding time to attend this important event for our region. We are especially honoured and humbled to note the attendance by guests from neighboring countries and indeed from other parts of the world and we want to confirm to all, that Kenya is a safe destination despite the occasional exaggerated reports to the 3

4 contrary. As you will all discover during your stay in Kenya, such challenges are not much less rooted than has been reported out there. Let me say Karibuni sana and wish you a good stay in our lovely country. As we congregate here, today, we take cognizance of the effects that corruption puts on the economies in the region. These effects can t be fully fathomed. From undermining the democratic values and institutions, weakening the efforts to promote gender equality, and hampering economic and social development, and robbing the poor, it is evident that corruption is a major 4

5 contributor to world poverty and a hindrance to equitable development. The efforts at regional integration face a stiff challenge in the name of corruption. Regional peace and security is at risk if corruption is not stemmed. The challenge that we face today in the fight against corruption is the urgent need to have a symbiotic working relationship between the various organs of the state. This fight should not be left to a select few e.g. the Police, the Judiciary and the anti-corruption bodies. In contrast, mistrust between anti-corruption agencies and other state agencies has been commonly identified as a main reason for failure. This togetherness that we are advocating should therefore include the civil society, media, independent 5

6 experts, researchers, networks, specialized institutions, to mention but a few. Ladies and Gentlemen, the link between corruption, peace and security, organized crime and terrorism has been well documented. Each and every country represented here can vividly draw this linkage. Our respective governments as a result have at times found themselves unduly bogged down in policy formulation and strategizing on how best to deal with the menace to the detriment of service delivery and development. The various legislative reforms however that have been undertaken in our region have had significant bearing towards 6

7 stemming this vice. At the regional level the EAC Protocol on Preventing and Combating Corruption has been developed aimed at facilitating and strengthening regional cooperation. However, it remains a big challenge that anti-corruption efforts have at times not fully yielded the desired results. The result has been a huge gap between the efforts of the anti-corruption authorities and citizen expectations. It is our duty to inform and educate the citizens against pointing accusing fingers at the anti-corruption bodies. It is equally our duty to sensitize the citizens of this region to join hands if sustainable results in the fight are to be realized. Legislative reforms that provide greater responsibility on the part of the citizen will also help in bringing to an end the corrupt practices. 7

8 The Eastern Africa region ladies and Gentlemen has of late been at the center of interest due to the natural resources including gas and oil finds. Exploitation of these natural resources will only benefit the region if the region fully shields itself from the curse of corruption. As anti-corruption bodies, we have the responsibility of ensuring that Eastern Africa benefits from its natural resources and that investors are not scared by the existence of corrupt practices in the business and policy arena. This requires concerted efforts and innovative approaches to effectively deal with any emerging corruption trends. In addition, various Eastern Africa governments have either jointly or individually rolled out mega projects which are currently 8

9 ongoing. Some of these projects include: the Lamu Port Southern Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor commonly known as the LAPSSET project, the Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali Standard gauge Railway project-it is understood that South Sudan has also made a request to be enjoined in this project; Dar Es Salaam-Isaka Kigali Railway project; Ethiopia-Djibouti Rail-road project; Ruzizi III Hydropower Project of Rwanda and Burundi; Construction of a new JKIA Terminal in Kenya, Karuma hydropower project in Uganda; Bagamoyo port project in Tanzania; Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda; Sondu/Miriu hydro-electric power plant in Kenya, construction of new cities and Roads just to name a few. Completion of these projects will significantly spur the growth of our respective economies and improve lives of our people. 9

10 However, this places a higher responsibility on Anti-Corruption agencies in ensuring that implementation of these projects do not breed conducive environments within which corruption operates. As lead agencies in the fight against corruption in the region, EAAACA and ARIN-EA should therefore monitor the growth of the region and facilitate trade without necessarily facilitating Corruption. Ladies and gentlemen, corruption must be fought locally, regionally and globally and EAAACA and ARINEA have been established on this belief. For us to effectively win this fight, it is imperative that we appreciate that the dynamic nature of the environment within which corruption operates requires new techniques and tactics. 10

11 This demands that the entire region must invest in research and innovation that would help to stem out this vice. It also requires a shift in our mindset: from seeing corruption as something that cannot be countered to committing ourselves and taking action. This calls for a comprehensive, regular, and evidence-based analysis of corruption in partner countries, in order to provide genuine guidance on strategic prioritization. Ladies and Gentlemen In the past programmes and strategies, we have at times failed to acknowledge the role that the private sector can play and indeed ought to play in fighting corruption. The developments in the region require an increased role of business in combating 11

12 corruption. We urge EAAACA members and ARINEA to work in a collaborative way with the business community in this endeavour. The business sector has to a large extent been invisible in the fight yet they are an important actor. There is need to curb illicit financial flows by equally involving all relevant domestic and regional agencies and promoting international cooperation. In this regard, we belief the establishment of ARIN-EA, will promote and enhance international cooperation and asset recovery. Fellow delegates, in my acceptance speech during the ceremony for assumption of office as President of EAAACA I stressed the need to focus on mainstreaming integrity among the youth through curriculum development and integrity clubs in the formal 12

13 education sector. Whereas this is being done, I urge the EAAACA members to continue devising relevant and effective preventive measures targeting the education sector. As the academia develops the next generation of leaders, they should be at the forefront in ensuring that their products can withstand the allure of corruption. They should change the current thinking among the youth of getting rich quickly, a thinking that perpetuates corruption. But how will their needs be met except by harnessing the available resources towards a better future for them? How will the jobs be created when the opportunities for investment are reduced due to insecurity and corruption? How will they secure these few opportunities if we allow corruption to be the ticket in the labour market? 13

14 Ladies and Gentlemen, apart from the focus on integrity among the youth, allow me to inform you about the proposed Integrity Award Scheme. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is in the process of establishing an Integrity Award Scheme and the same is spearheaded by the Vice-Chairperson of the Commission. Instead of corruption agencies only seen as investigative and enforcement agencies, the proposed scheme will recognize and award outstanding institutions and persons based on integrity. To achieve this, EACC, in conjunction with other stakeholders is in the process of developing a sufficiently scientific tool complete with a matrix though which we will ensure that only deserving institutions and persons get nominated for the integrity award. After the initial pilot phase, it is intended to cascade the strategy 14

15 to various sectors and institutions across the two-tier government structure and the private sector in Kenya. EACC will also engage EAAACA with a view of introducing the same scheme to the entire region. As we deliberate on how to raise the bar in mutual legal assistance and asset recovery in the region, there is no doubt that this is the time for us to shift our gears, not in reverse, but forward. This will require concerted efforts and engagement in dialogue with Eastern Africa member states, civil society and other stakeholders in offering suggestions and support. We believe that a vibrant association will provide the necessary coordination for such an engagement. Each EAAACA member 15

16 organization working on their own will find it extremely difficult to deliver on the results, especially at the regional level. Joint efforts, locally, nationally, regionally and globally will achieve more tangible results. AS I conclude My sincere call is that we should all join together to prevent and combat corruption. Each one of us should play his or her role at whatever level to contribute to this noble cause. With those remarks allow me to take this opportunity to invite Honorable the Attorney General of the Republic of Kenya to deliver his speech and officially open the 8 th Annual General 16

17 Meeting of the East African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities and the 1 st AGM of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for Eastern Africa. Thank you all; God Bless Eastern Africa MUMO MATEMU, MBS 17