In a powerful address to global anti-corruption leaders, the head of Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) declared that the era of hiding fraudulently acquired money in offshore accounts must end, calling for urgent international cooperation to repatriate stolen public funds.
EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud told the 11th Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) that Kenya cannot recover stolen wealth alone, with billions currently shielded beyond its legal jurisdiction.
“Effective asset recovery depends on strong, sustained international collaboration,” Mohamud stated, emphasizing that tracing assets in foreign jurisdictions requires reliable cross-border mechanisms. “We are confronting a global challenge that demands a unified global response.”
The EACC has actively partnered with global bodies, including the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre (IACCC) and the Basel Institute’s International Centre for Asset Recovery (ICAR), to trace and recover assets hidden abroad. These alliances are part of a strategic effort to follow the money trail across continents.
Mohamud outlined key reforms needed worldwide:
· Strengthened funding for anti-corruption bodies
· Systemic legal and institutional reforms
· Establishment of centralized beneficial ownership registries with robust verification
· Enhanced international information-sharing protocols
The push follows alarming data from Kenya’s Financial Reporting Centre, which flagged Ksh 6.976 trillion in suspicious offshore transactions in 2025. These revelations have intensified pressure to reclaim national assets and hold perpetrators accountable.
The EACC emphasized that its high-level participation in the Doha conference underscores Kenya’s dual commitment: rigorous domestic action and proactive global engagement.
“This is not just about Kenya,” Mohamud concluded. “It is about global justice, restoring public trust, and ensuring that stolen wealth—wherever it is hidden—is returned to its rightful owners: the people.”
The UNCAC conference in Doha brings together representatives from over 180 states to strengthen the international framework against corruption.
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