East Africa to have one anti-corruption policy

Preparations are on going to have partner states of East African Community (EAC) accede to one policy that will aim at fighting corruption in the region, The Sunday Times has learnt. The Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Beatrice Kiraso, said on Friday that the second draft protocol on preventing and combating corruption has already been considered by the EAC Council of Ministers. ‘Hon. Kiraso reiterated that the draft Protocol was based on principles of transparency, accountability and proper management of public resources,’ said a press statement from the EAC secretariat, a copy of which The Sunday Times obtained. The official made the remarks while meeting the EAC Audit Commission which comprises Auditors General from the five partner states of East Africa. Hon.Kiraso said that the Council of Ministers, a policy making organ, directed that national consultations be undertaken to popularize it and get inputs from more stakeholders. “Corruption is also an anti-thesis to regional integration where the EAC is striving to promote the Community as a single investment, tourism and trade destination”, the statement quotes Kiraso as saying. The Deputy Secretary General told the commission that several forums had been established to support the good governance programmes within the region such as the EAC Chief Justices Forum, EAC Forum of Electoral Commissions, EAC Human Rights Commissions Forum, and the EAC Anti-corruption Agencies Forum. On their part, the Auditors General urged the EAC secretariat to initiative the establishment of the EAC Auditors General Forum and mainstream it in the EAC programme of activities. The EAC Secretary General, Juma Mwapachu informed the commission that the secretariat was revamping its systems with the view to creating a more robust financial, procurement, auditing, as well as risk management systems for the regional bloc. Mwapachu said that operation manuals in the identified areas had been developed and are to be rolled out during the coming financial year. The Auditors General of partner states also signed the audited financial statements of the EAC for the financial year ended on June 2008. Ends