Technology, A Tool for or Against Corruption?
Four years ago, the Kenya Government launched an Integrated
Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) described as an automated
system that enhances efficiency in planning, budgeting, procurement,
expenditure management and reporting in the National and County Governments in
Kenya. This, according to IFMIS website (http://www.ifmis.go.ke/?page_id=2340)
ushered a new era of a fully automated procurement process, from requisition,
tendering, contract award to payment.
In a nutshell, such automation was aimed at enhancing
visibility and accountability in all levels of procurement for government. So one might ask, how comes we lose so much
money when we have a system fully dedicated to enhancing accountability and
making public procurement efficient and effective. Does technology help in
curbing corruption or is it the new tool for corruption. Corruption has indeed
become a menace in achieving shared prosperity and ending poverty.
One of the challenges in investigation of corruption cases
is in the records management. According to Anders Hjorth, digital records exist
in different forms and are spread across different systems. This makes them
difficult to locate, analyze and control in the absence of a proper and well
established evidence management system. The EACC and DCI are charged with
investigations of corruption cases in Kenya. However, lack of intra-agency
collaboration across different technical platforms compromises the chains of
custody practices. This is mainly due to intentional loss of evidence and inevitable
physical deterioration of digital records with none of the mandated
institutions taking responsibility.
Kenya’s investigations have been censoriously haltered through
unlawful destruction of evidence, missing information and assets, and lack of
proper oversight or records management especially in the public sector. In a
discussion of effectiveness of technology in the fight-against corruption, it
was noted that many developing countries have laws that allow the use of
digital evidence as internationally recommended. Nevertheless, judges have been
sometimes reluctant to accept admission of such evidence. Such loopholes are
thus taken advantage of by corrupt officials.
What can be done better?
So let’s not be victimized as the proverbial ‘Complainers
with no solution.’ Many other countries have implemented similar strategic approach
to IT Integration. We must thus benchmark why there’s a better story than ours.
The Commission for the Prevention of Corruption of the Republic of Slovenia
developed an app ‘Supervizor’ for monitoring expenses of public bodies. It has
helped reveal correlation between change in government and money disbursements
from state budget users to a limited number of companies.
Kenya’s EACC must enhance its agency capacity and promote
transparency. IFMIS should have a sublet Information management system designed
specifically for income and asset disclosure, and a document management system
that functions as an archive (Study case Romania). Electronic submissions
should be completely instituted for disclosure forms and income. Such robust
digital system allows for a purely and wholly electronic audit.
Technology is as good as the integrity of the hands in which
it falls. Like any tool, it needs to be used properly or it can cause harm, and
proper use requires awareness of the risks, good standards of practice and
training. However,
