Technology, A Tool for or Against Corruption? IFMIS in Kenya.

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, technology, if used with skill, can be a powerful tool in the fight to end impunity.