By Baboloki Semele: In a significant move towards enhancing governance and transparency, Kenya has launched the Kenya Integrity Plan (KIP) 2023-2028. The initiative aims to bolster the nation’s commitment to eradicating corruption and promoting ethical conduct across all sectors.

The launch event, held on Thursday, 27th February 2025, at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, was graced by a distinguished member of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC) and the Country Rapporteur for Kenya Hon Edem Kwami Senanu.

Hon. Senanu commended the Kenyan government’s proactive approach, highlighting that the KIP aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an Africa driven by its citizens, free from corruption, and imbued with ethical values.

The KIP outlines four key strategic areas:

Strengthening Institutional Effectiveness: Enhancing the capacity of the Kenya Leadership Integrity Forum (KLIF) to coordinate anti-corruption efforts.
Promoting Policy, Legal, and Institutional Reforms: Reviewing and amending existing policies and laws to close loopholes and strengthen anti-corruption frameworks.
Inculcating Ethics and Integrity: Embedding ethical values within public and private sectors, as well as in society at large.
Enhancing Public Participation: Encouraging active involvement of citizens in governance processes to foster transparency and accountability.

Hon. Senanu emphasized that the successful implementation of the KIP is crucial for achieving the objectives of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), to which Kenya is a State Party. He noted that strategic frameworks like the KIP enhance public trust in government institutions, citing examples from countries such as Rwanda and Ghana, which have reported improvements in public service and governance through similar integrity plans.

The AUABC has pledged to support Kenya’s anti-corruption initiatives by leveraging platforms such as the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to share information on best practices. This collaboration aims to deepen regional integration and bolster continental efforts to eradicate corruption and promote good governance.

The launch of the Kenya Integrity Plan 2023-2028 marks a pivotal step in the nation’s journey towards a more transparent and accountable society. The sustained implementation of this plan is expected to yield significant positive results for Kenya and the broader African continent by 2028.