President Uhuru Kenyatta focused his address to the United Nations on Wednesday on the urgency of combating corporate, individual and government corruption in Africa, and throughout the world.
“We have to fight impunity and corruption — seriously and without fear or favour,” he declared in his 25-minute speech.
“In Kenya, we are undertaking an aggressive campaign against fraud and abuse of public trust.”
Noting that Kenya has urged Switzerland and the United Kingdom to take action against transfers or illegal proceeds into their financial systems, Mr Kenyatta pledged, “We will pursue more such bilateral agreements.”
He warned that citizens everywhere are becoming more aware of the scourge of corruption and are demanding action to address this source of social and economic injustice.
Corrupt dealings in the extraction of minerals and other resources “are pillaging Africa and other underdeveloped regions of all their natural wealth”, and “almost routinely lead to violence and instability”, he added.
A globalised financial and legal system enables such illegal conduct to occur, President Kenyatta said.
He cited “conservative estimates” that illicit money outflows from Africa between 1980 and 2009 amounted to between $1.2 trillion and $1.4 trillion.
That sum is “roughly equal to Africa’s current GDP and surpassing by far the money it received from outside over the same period.”
His impassioned speech comes at a time when his administration is facing fierce criticism at home for over-taxation and mismanagement of funds, following a string of corruption scandals involving government officials that have been reported in the media.
Uhuru vows to continue with corruption purge: Uhuru said citizens are demanding action to address social and economic injustice. https://t.co/JrIrQg5m4Z
— Breaking News (@News_Kenya) September 28, 2018