By Alex Ndegwa

10 November 2006 

KENYA - The absence of a Freedom of Information law promotes corruption and poverty because it breeds a culture of secrecy and impunity.

A public forum heard on Thursday that latest surveys indicated that the most corrupt and impoverished countries in the world coincidentally had not enacted the law.

All the 38 countries classified by the World Bank as the poorest nations—according to their heavy debts—have not enacted the law to facilitate access to government information by the public.

And Transparency International’s latest report on global corruption indicates that countries ranked as the most corrupt similarly did not have the legislation in place.

But those rated least corrupt have enacted the law.

Speakers at the forum organised by the International Commission of Jurists in Nairobi intensified calls for the speedy enactment of the Freedom of Information Bill, which would promote accountability and transparency.

Nominated MP Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, the mover of a Motion

seeking the enactment of the legislation, told the audience that citizens should be provided with information on public affairs to maintain vigilance.

Constitutional lawyer Mr Kibe Mungai called for the repeal of the Official Secrets Act and other restrictive legislations, saying they promoted a culture of secrecy and impunity giving rise to corruption scandals.
Mr Wilfred Nderitu, the chairman of ICJ-Kenya chapter, said

the passing of the legislation would bolster the fight against corruption by allowing public scrutiny of wealth declarations and ensuring better management of public records.

The speakers quoted President Kibaki extensively in speeches he made during his inauguration ceremony in 2002 and the opening of the International Press Institute assembly in Nairobi affirming the Government’s commitment to eliminate all obstacles to information access.

They urged him to spearhead the enactment of the legislation, which would allow free flow of information, which he described as the "hallmark of a functional democracy" in one of his addresses.

The forum heard that 70 countries had passed the legislation worldwide while in Africa only Angola, Uganda and South Africa had enacted the legislation.