Former Ethics PS, John Githongo. Photo/FILE
By OLIVER MATHENGE (omathenge@ke.nationmedia.com)Posted Thursday, February 3 2011 at 11:16
Kenya's former anti-corruption czar John Githongo is set to join a high-level commission in Britain set up to reassure taxpayers that aid is being well spent, British newspaper, The Guardian has reported.
The newspaper reported on its website that Britain’s international development secretary Andrew Mitchell will announce on Thursday that Mr Githongo is to be part of a four-strong independent team appointed to scrutinise whether the European nation is getting full value for money from its rapidly increasing aid spending.
Mr Mitchell said that Mr Githongo’s record on fighting corruption in Kenya would be an added value to Britain’s Independent Commission for Aid.
“It is crucial that we have credible, energetic, capable people, who can shine a light on the UK’s aid programmes, which is why I am delighted at the appointment of this board,” Mr Mitchell told The Guardian.
The former Kenyan anti-corruption boss joins Global Markets and Management Consulting CEO Mr Mark Foster, and Ms Diana Good, a part-time judge and a founder trustee of the Access to Justice Foundation, as the three new commissioners to the ICA.
They join Graham Ward, an accountant, who was appointed chief commissioner last year.
Mr Githongo has spearheaded numerous anti-corruption measures in Kenya. After Narc party took over government in 2002, Mr Githongo was appointed permanent secretary for ethics and governance in the Office of the President.
In 2005, he left that position and ran away from the country, later accusing top ministers of large-scale fraud.
He returned to Kenya in 2008, and founded Inuka, a grassroots advocacy group aimed at creating an informed citizenry. He also became head of Twaweza in Kenya.
In Jan 2011, Mr Githongo launched a new campaign, Kenya Ni Yetu (Kenya Belongs to Us), aimed at mobilising ordinary people to speak up against corruption, impunity and injustice.
The Guardian reports that Mr Mitchell believes that Mr Githongo, a former permanent secretary, “will bring the voice of the developing world to bear on the British government’s work and give insights into how aid projects can be successful.”
The development secretary said the ICA would be fully independent and would undertake a wide-ranging 20 reports a year, including evaluations, value for money reviews and investigations into potential corruption.
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