Kafiti’s Regional Appointment Signals Promise, but Tests East Africa’s Anti-Corruption Resolve
By Adonis Byemelwa
Lilian William Kafiti (pictured) has been appointed as the Executive Secretary of the East African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, a commendable step for regional governance, but only time will tell whether its importance is justified by the actions and outcomes delivered by this institution.
It was formed in 2007 and has served as a coordinating body for various NGOs throughout Africa, but the extent to which EAAACA is visible or contributes measurably to decreasing corruption across member states remains inconsistent.
The selection process attracted 89 candidates from across East Africa, but vague public comments on how potential participants are scored raise concerns about transparency and merit weightings. In a context where institutional appointments carry political connotations, scrutiny of these processes is necessary to bolster legitimacy and trust.
Ms Kafiti has worked for the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau, dealing with high-profile investigations. The lack of publicly documented case outcomes or benchmark measures of reform makes it harder for people to judge the scope and success of her work.
Her appointment also reflects the anti-corruption narrative promulgated in Tanzania amid reforms made on procurement oversight and financial monitoring systems. However, external assessments, including those from global watchdogs, also indicate that challenges linger and progress has been incremental rather than transformative.
Corruption is entrenched at national and sub-national levels across East Africa, complicated by limited enforcement and varying legal frameworks. These structural deficiencies restrict the capacity of regional bodies like EAAACA to transform cooperation into predictable, cross-border responsibility.
The position thus taken up by Ms Kafiti is as multifaceted as this prestigious role, encompassing coordination but also addressing sovereignty sensitivities across member states. A key test of her leadership will be reconciling divergent political will and institutional capacity.
There are high hopes for her time spent at the top, especially in enhancing intelligence sharing and asset recovery. Success, however, will depend on whether EAAACA can leave dialogue behind for enforceable mechanisms and quantifiable results.
In the end, the appointment reiterates confidence in Tanzanian nationals to head regional institutions but also highlights delivery. Whether this leadership transition results in tangible progress or is merely symbolic, given the difficulties with anti-corruption work after elections, will be measured over the coming years.
