By Steve El Sabai
Kenya has taken a leading role in Africa’s anti-corruption efforts by hosting the inaugural African Asset Recovery Practitioners Forum (AARP Forum), a groundbreaking event focused on strengthening collaboration in asset recovery across the continent.
The high-level meeting, held at the Panari Hotel in Nairobi, was co-hosted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC). It brought together anti-corruption experts, judicial officers, policymakers, and international development partners from across Africa.
During the opening ceremony, EACC Secretary and CEO Mr. Abdi A. Mohamud, MBS reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to coordinated, strategic approaches in combating corruption and illicit financial flows. He emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in tracing, freezing, and recovering stolen public assets.
The EACC operates under a strong legal and constitutional framework, established through Article 79 of the Constitution of Kenya and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, CAP. 7H. Its mandate includes law enforcement, corruption prevention, public education, and the promotion of ethics and integrity in public service.
Kenya is also an active participant in several international and regional anti-corruption frameworks, including the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), the UN Convention Against Organized Crime, and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC). In addition, the EACC is a member of the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network – East Africa (ARIN-EA) and has signed bilateral agreements for the repatriation of stolen assets.
Over the past five years, the EACC has recovered approximately KES 28 billion (USD 216 million) worth of corruptly acquired and unexplained assets. The Commission is also actively pursuing forfeiture of assets valued at KES 50 billion (USD 382 million).
The Forum aims to provide a platform for African countries to align strategies, share best practices, and build effective partnerships in asset recovery. One of its key outcomes will be the signing of the Declaration of Commitment to the Common African Position on Asset Recovery, a continental framework designed to enhance cooperation and collective action.
Kenya’s hosting of the AARP Forum reinforces its regional leadership in anti-corruption efforts and signals a renewed determination to hold the corrupt accountable and return stolen resources to the public.
