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UNODC welcomes President of Kenya's renewed anti-corruption pledge

Nairobi, 17 January 2020 - A renewed pledge by the President of the Republic of Kenya, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, to fight corruption has been welcomed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

During his address to the nation on Tuesday, President Kenyatta expressed his intent to make the issue of corruption a focus area for his administration in the coming months, noting "more must be done" including by justice institutions.

"With corruption again dominating public discourse in Kenya, UNODC salutes President Kenyatta's intensified focus on stamping out corruption at all levels, from investigations to high-profile prosecutions," the UNODC Regional Representative for Eastern Africa, Dr. Amado Philip de Andrés, said.

“UNODC is supportive of the Government of Kenya’s anti-corruption efforts and we’re pleased to be furthering our technical assistance to the justice sector in 2020 as part of our ongoing partnership with the government, as well as the private sector,” Dr. de Andrés said.

This includes the Blue Company Initiative Project whereby UNODC is partnering with the Blue Company in Kenya to assist with capacity building and the provision of anti-bribery and whistle-blowing guidelines and procedures to certified Blue Company members on anti-corruption compliance.

Additionally, the Fast Tracking UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) project, funded by the UK government, provides anti-corruption related assistance to Kenya and other jurisdictions in East Africa.

In 2020, through the European Union-funded Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery in Kenya (PLEAD), UNODC will continue its technical support for justice reform initiatives for better service delivery by the Judiciary and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, among other institutions.

For example, this will include assistance to streamline case management so that criminal cases are dealt with justly and expeditiously, and strengthening the role of the National Council on the Administration of Justice as a central, coordinating body.

“Among the desired outcomes of PLEAD, strengthening the administration of justice will assist Kenya to sustain a favourable business environment and ultimately result in citizens reporting greater trust in their formal and informal justice systems,” Dr. de Andrés said.

UNODC is also working with the Kenya School for Government to develop an online anti-corruption course for public officials.

Media contact:

Mark Dennis Williams mark.williams@un.org

 

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