Global Policy Forum

By Andrew Harding

The Kenyan Government has announced it is hiring a group of mainly British experts to help it tackle corruption. The East African nation has been branded one of the world's most corrupt countries.

Announcing the news, President Daniel arap Moi said Kenya faced a daunting task and called for international support. A British security consultancy, the Risk Advisory Group, has been hired to take an unflinching look at all aspects of official sleaze in Kenya and to come up with a plan to get rid of it.

Donors

For years, critics have accused the government of dragging its feet on this issue as initiatives have come and gone without any senior public figures being successfully prosecuted. International donors have been so frustrated by the lack of progress, that they have suspended millions of dollars worth of loans to Kenya.

Last year, plans to set up an independent anti-corruption authority failed to win approval in parliament. In a statement to the press, President Moi acknowledged a lack of focus in the past, and spoke of the need for strong political will and international credibility.

Being watched

The British project director, Bill Waite, says his team had enormous experience and would not be part of any whitewash. Foreign donors and institutions like the IMF will be watching the team's progress with interest and looking for hard evidence of progress in the war against corruption before releasing any funds.

Some Kenyan politicians have questioned the need to hire expensive foreign consultants in the middle of a crippling recession. But President Moi says an international response is needed to tackle a global problem.

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