Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has partnered with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to initiate a comprehensive assessment of corruption’s impact on Kenya’s economy.
In a statement on March 3, 2025, Mudavadi confirmed that a meeting with IMF representatives marked the official launch of the IMF Governance Diagnostic Assessment Scoping Mission for Kenya. The study aims to evaluate governance systems and identify corruption vulnerabilities.
Mudavadi described the session as “productive and insightful,” highlighting discussions with Rebecca A. Sparkman, the IMF’s Deputy Division Chief, during the launch. The talks centered on how corruption affects macroeconomic performance and financial stability.
“We explored the mission’s objectives to assess corruption vulnerabilities and their potential impact on Kenya’s macroeconomic performance,” Mudavadi stated.
The assessment will gather data to inform policy decisions and governance reforms. Mudavadi emphasized the importance of an inclusive approach, urging the IMF team to engage diverse stakeholders across various sectors.
“I encouraged the IMF team to connect with key stakeholders across national and county governments, the Judiciary, Parliament, the private sector, civil society, and faith-based organizations for a comprehensive approach,” he said.
The meeting was attended by key government officials, including Albert Mwenda, Director General for Budget, Fiscal, and Economic Affairs at the National Treasury, and Selim Cakir, the IMF’s Resident Representative in Kenya.
Kenya’s Request for an IMF Corruption Assessment
The initiative follows a formal request from the Kenyan government for a governance and corruption diagnostic assessment. On October 7, 2024, Mudavadi disclosed that he signed the request after consultations with President William Ruto.
“We need to take the fight against corruption a notch higher and cast away the spirit of corruption. The war on corruption has taken a long time. We must ask ourselves where corruption is domiciled so that we can tackle it head-on,” Mudavadi stated.
He further affirmed that the assessment will cover all government institutions, reinforcing Kenya’s commitment to tackling corruption.
“On our volition, we have requested a governance and corruption diagnostic, and I signed off on that request on behalf of the Government of Kenya,” he said.
Through this collaboration with the IMF, Kenya aims to enhance transparency, strengthen governance, and foster long-term economic stability.
