Kenya Anti-corruption Commission goes digital

The BKMS is an internationally certified web-based reporting system that guarantees complete anonymity to the person reporting a corruption case.

Speaking to HANA, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission's (KACC) Public Relations and Protocol officer Nicholas Simani lauded the new technology, saying that it would enable quality information that would help in the fight against corruption. "We are aware of harrassment and intimidation of whistle blowers by superiors or fellow workers, not only in Kenya but the world over. We therefore wish to protect them by guaranteeing full anonymity, unless they wish to give their personal details. This will encourage public servants to report corruption cases freely."

In Kenya unfortunately, the current law does not empower KACC to arrest and prosecute those who intimidate whistle blowers. That is why the commission deemed it necessary to adopt the BKMS whistle blower protection system.

"Many Kenyans come across corruption cases but are afraid to make them public, in fear that they might be followed and punished; this has hindered the fight against corruption. With the new system at hand, many Kenyans will feel free to report more corruption cases with full guarantee of protection," says Simani.

The new system, he adds can be accessed through the KACC website: [[www.kacc.go.ke}}. However, he says that only those with access to the internet can effectively use the BKMS system. To the majority with little know-how of the internet, they can only walk in at the commission and report any corruption cases in the Report Centre Section. Although other methods of reporting corruption cases include telephone calls, faxes, emails and letters.

So far, there are about 500 reported cases of corruption through the BKMS system and the number is expected to rise once the system is fully marketed. The system is only instrumental for cases that constitute corruption; these include bribery, conflict of interest, fraud, abuse of office, misappropriation of public funds and fraudulent acquisition and disposal of public property. Others include land grabbing, irregularities in public procurement, breach of trust and tax evasion among others.

However, where inaccurate information is reported through BKMS, KACC has its own investigators who will first verify the same information and then refer it to qualified crime readers or lawyers who will establish the accuracy of the information provided.

The BKMS has been successfully implemented in Germany by criminal investigation authorities and other countries are beginning to follow suit.

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