US Strengthens Partnership with Kenya in Fight against Corruption

The United States government has strengthened its partnership with Kenya in the fight against graft through one of its global anti-corruption programmes.

Speaking during a press briefing, Rob Leventhal, the Deputy Director in the Office of anti-crime programmes bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs said that fighting the vice was one of the US's top priority. US has been working with Kenya's Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and has pumped over Sh100 million in the campaign.

“We are also supporting Kenya fight corruption at the borders. This has been an ongoing programme,” Leventhal said during a telephonic press briefing on US anti-corruption efforts.

“However, it is important to remember that asset recovery even when there is strong political will on both sides is complicated and can be time-consuming. The US has long recognised that the negative impact of corruption affects all aspects of society and touches the lives of all citizens,” the official said.

A 2016 Corruption Perception Index released by Transparency International indicates that Kenya is ranked at position 145 out of 176 countries as far cases of corruption are concerned. TI uses data from the World Bank, the African Development Bank and business school IMD to measure the scale of corruption in public sector.