Ministry Of Environment And Forestry Strengthen Their Systems To Seal Corruption Loopholes

In order to promote transparency, accountability, greater efficiency, ethics, integrity and to enhance service delivery levels in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Keriako Tobiko invited the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to undertake a Systems Review of the Ministrys policies, procedures and practices.

On 14th June, 2018, the Chairperson of EACC Archbishop (Rtd) Eliud Wabukala, the Deputy Secretary/CEO Mr. Michael Mubea and the EACC Prevention Team met the Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Keriako Tobiko, Principal Secretary Mr. Charles Sunkuli and the Heads of Departments and Sections at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for an inception meeting to introduce the Systems Review process.

EACCs specific mandate to prevent corruption is derived from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act 2011 Section 11 and Section 13 (2) (a) and (b). The mandate includes:

• Developing and promoting standards and best practices in integrity and anti-corruption.
• Advising on its own initiative any person on any matter within its functions
• Subject to Article 31 of the Constitution, monitoring the practices and procedures of public bodies to detect corrupt practices and to secure the revision of methods of work or procedures that may be conducive to corrupt practices.

The objective of corruption prevention is to promote and sustain good governance in organizations. One of the methods to achieve this is to undertake systems reviews. The purpose is to reform organizational policies, procedures and practices in order to seal corruption loopholes and to address other inefficiencies that may lead to loss, poor service delivery and other malpractices.

The systems review is purely a preventive approach intended to assist the Ministry to identify and seal loopholes that may lead to corrupt practices and inefficiencies in the performance of its functions. The exercise will assist the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to enhance transparency, accountability, efficiency and responsiveness in service delivery.

After completion of the Systems Review, EACC will present a report to the Ministry indicating the status of the Ministry’s systems and make recommendations for appropriate implementation.