The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has vowed to play its part in combating graft, amid rising public concern about alleged corruption surrounding the supply of medicine and personal protective equipment related to COVID-19. A Polity report quotes KEPSA CEO Carole Karuga as saying the alliance was disturbed by these allegations "which if proven will constitute one of the most heinous economic and health crimes against the people of Kenya, coming at a time when Kenyans are being asked to make enormous personal, financial and business sacrifices to combat the spread and impact of COVID-19".
"As an immediate first step, KEPSA has called on the government to undertake an urgent, independent and transparent audit of the use of all COVID funds raised, including those raised under the aegis of the KEPSA-supported COVID-19 Fund Board, to ensure those found culpable of misuse are brought to book," Karuga said.
"Separately, KEPSA has also appealed to its members in all sectors to undertake urgent and rigorous self-examinations in order to remove any weaknesses that allow malpractices leading to corruption. These self-examinations should include expelling from their memberships any companies or individuals found to be involved in the embezzlement of COVID funds."
She said the alliance would continue rolling out a code of ethics under the auspices of the UN Global Compact, a pact which encourages businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies and report on their implementation.
KEPSA was encouraging its 1,000 business member organisations to not only sign but also adopt a self-regulatory framework for their members, and would also intensify training on business ethics and integrity, while also pushing and supporting the digitisation of government services as a key effort in reducing corruption in Kenya, Karuga said.
According to Polity, the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation reported that health cabinet secretary Mutahi Kagwe had downplayed claims that money meant to fight the coronavirus pandemic had been misappropriated.
To date (18 August), some 30,365 people in Kenya have been infected with COVID-19, the eighth highest number of cases in Africa after South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, Ghana, Algeria and neighbouring Ethiopia.
[link url="https://www.polity.org.za/article/kenya-private-sector-vows-to-fight-corruption-related-to-covid-19-procurement-2020-08-18"]Full Polity report[/link]