The African Parliamentary Network against Corruption Kenya Chapter has advocated for development of an anti-graft training programme.
It will be rolled out for members of the county assemblies and Parliament in a bid to fight corruption and promote good governance.
APNAC-Kenya Chapter chair, Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir said the training will benefit them in the course of their work as they implement policies and weed out corrupt and unethical practices that compromise the quality of governance.
Shabbir added that the session will collaborate with the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST) to come up with programmes against the challenge.
It will also build parliamentarians' capacity to exercise oversight roles especially on financial matters.
The MP further said the training will introduce best practices in governance which will help MPs to fight against and effectively address corruption in their oversight role to ensure higher standards of integrity.
"APNAC appreciates the efforts made by the anti-corruption agencies, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders in the fight against graft and we want to strongly be part of this fight through training programmes," he said.
Apart from MPs, Shabbir said the training will also target Ward Representatives and staff of both Parliament and County Assemblies.
"This training is in line with the objective for which APNAC is established to build the commitment and capacity of African Parliaments and Parliamentarians to ensure transparency and accountability with particular emphasis on financial matters," he said.
Shabbir held that to achieve more in the fight against corruption, there is need to change the strategy used in the campaigns against it.
He noted that training on the need to shun corruption and practice good governance by the legislators, MCAs and staff will supplement efforts by other bodies in ensuring that Kenya is a corrupt-free country.
Shabbir said they have chosen to work with CPST because the institution has better systems and structures that will help in the training programmes.
He noted that APNAC seeks to empower Parliamentary Committees to be responsive and effective in their oversight roles as well as facilitate the existence of the policy, legal and institutional frameworks to support the anti-corruption work.
The legislator pointed out that the programmes that will be undertaken are in line with the APNAC Strategic Plan of 2019-2023.
He noted that their partner Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has provided moral and financial support to APNAC that has helped them undertake their activities smoothly.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula, Shabir said, has assured them of his support when they paid him a courtesy call recently.
Since its formation in 1999 in Kampala, Uganda, APNAC has promoted accountability, transparency and public participation in the processes of government as the best ways to control corruption.
