Global Compact Network Kenya (GCNK) in partnership with Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) has relaunched the Code of Ethics for Business in Kenya.
The Code is a principles-based collective action Initiative that aims to promote and enhance the ethics of business conduct in Kenya in line with the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact on Human Rights, Labour Standards, Environment, and Anti-corruption.
Officially launched in March 2012, the Code is a guide to ethical business practices in Kenya especially among the private sector and has grown from 44 signatories to over 840 signatories. With the relaunch, a new digital platform was also unveiled where companies can readily access information and tools to support them in their Anti-corruption compliance journey.
According to Global Compact Kenya Executive Director, Judy Njino, with the high number of companies committing to the Code, there’s an opportunity to support companies strengthen the implementation of the Code’s principles through information, skills, knowledge, and resources available in the newly launched portal.
She explained that business suffer immensely from the cost of corruption, and this cost countries up to 17% of their GDP and has an effect on business performance, sustainable development, global trust, and economic stability.
“Private sector corruption has a serious societal impact as it distorts markets, weakens competition, and reduces the quality of goods and services. It also deprives citizens of their capital, which is vital for economic progress, as it comes in many forms such as bribery, money laundering, procurement fraud, and collusion. Private sector corruption can also manifest itself in various forms such as gifts and hospitality, fees and commissions, trading of information, and misleading financial reporting,” added Judy.
The Code has gained global recognition as a principles-based collective action initiative designed to foster a cleaner business environment in Kenya. The Code has helped businesses self-regulate and provided a clean business environment in Kenya among the signatories.
With bribery being a dominant form of corruption, the recent survey by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission paints a grim picture of the current state of corruption in Kenya. The survey reports that the National Average bribe increased from Kshs 6,865 in 2022 to Kshs 11,625 in 2023. The survey adds that Kenyans paid the highest bribes when seeking employment (Kshs 163, 260), applying for a passport (Kshs 74,428) and while obtaining tenders (Kshs 17,000).
KAM Deputy Head of Policy Research & Advocacy, Mirriam Bomett urged all stakeholders to seize the momentum generated by the re-launch and translate dialogue into action.
She noted that KAM is working with the Kenya Judges and Magistrates Association to develop an Anti-corruption Guidebook to provide a quick reference on cases for Judges and Magistrates as well as outline the jurisprudence in anti-corruption judgments.
Global Compact Network Kenya (GCNK) is the Local Network of the United Nations Global Compact working to accelerate and scale the collective impact of businesses in Kenya by upholding the Ten Principles on Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-corruption and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change.
Established in 2005, GCNK is currently the largest of the UN Global Compact Local Networks in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions and has over 300 signatories and 800 others signed up to the Code of Ethics for Business in Kenya- an initiative of the GCNK alongside Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).
Global Compact Network Kenya is the private sector convener with the Kenya Leadership Integrity Forum (KILF), a stakeholder’s forum consisting of 15 sectors that are partnering in the fight against corruption and unethical practices in Kenya.
Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) is the leading voice and representative of manufacturing and value-add industries in Kenya since its establishment in 1959.
(TOP: From left – KEPSA Deputy CEO Victor Ogalo; Global Compact Network Kenya Executive Director Judy Njino; KEPSA Director for SMEs & Startups Mary Ngechu; and Anthony Ngige, CEO of Stealth Africa Consulting, during the re-launch of the Code of Ethics for Business in Kenya).
KAM is a dynamic, vibrant, credible organization that unites industrialists and offers a common voice for businesses. The Association’s key role is to advance a favourable policy environment for the manufacturing industry to achieve global competitiveness in addition to providing demand-driven services and support to manufacturing. The Association represents over 1,300 companies classified in 14 different sectors. Additionally, KAM has 7 regional offices across the country.
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