The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is strengthening its efforts to track money and assets moved across borders through a new partnership with Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption agency.
The commission says the cooperation with Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority (NAZAHA) is helping its investigators build skills needed to follow complex financial transactions, identify hidden ownership of assets and recover money linked to corruption.
The partnership is being implemented under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Kenya and Saudi Arabia in 2023 to strengthen cooperation in the fight against corruption.
EACC said Saudi Arabia has supported the commission through specialised training for its officers in areas including asset recovery, beneficial ownership, illicit financial flows and the investigation and prosecution of complex corruption cases.
It is even more relevant in situations where funds or properties related to possible corruption activities are transferred beyond the borders of Kenya.
EACC calls for more international collaboration
In this regard, Abdi Mohamud, CEO of the EACC, stressed the significance of cooperation with other countries in investigating international cases of corruption.
Abdi Mohamud made the remarks during a meeting with the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Kenya, Saad Bin Abdullah Alnofaia. The meeting took place on Thursday, August 13.
According to the commission, the training is intended to help investigators establish the individuals or companies behind assets and follow complicated financial transactions across different jurisdictions.
EACC also said the partnership covers accountability in major investments and high-value government projects, as it seeks to protect public resources from misuse.
The push comes amid increased scrutiny of how public funds are managed, particularly in large infrastructure projects.
A July report by Transparency International Kenya identified several major projects as being at risk of corruption, with the Standard Gauge Railway among those highlighted.
Treasury officials under investigation
The latest development also comes shortly after EACC reported an alleged loss of public funds at the National Treasury.
The commission said it was investigating the alleged embezzlement of Ksh1.57 billion allocated to the Programme for Rural Outreach of Financial Innovations and Technologies (PROFIT).
EACC alleged that some officials were involved in diverting the funds and said it was pursuing efforts to recover the money.
The commission maintains that stronger international partnerships are necessary as corruption increasingly involves financial transactions and assets that can move between countries.
Through the cooperation with NAZAHA, EACC hopes to improve its ability to trace such funds, identify those responsible and pursue the recovery of assets linked to corruption.
The commission said the collaboration will also support its wider mandate of preventing, investigating and prosecuting corruption cases in Kenya.
