Student thesis to influence anti-corruption policy
Saturday, June 13, 2020
When Eric Munyao Ngumbi was pursuing his Masters degree in Law at the University of Nairobi, he had no idea that his thesis and its strong recommendations would capture the attention of various state agencies in the fight against corruption.
Titled ‘Viability of Lifestyle Audits as an Anti-Corruption Strategy in Kenya: A Critical Assessment of the Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework,’ Eric’s thesis has been lauded by the Senate of the Republic of Kenya as a timely and significant study.
“During the second reading of the Lifestyle Audit Bill, 2019 on March 11, 2020, the Senate discussed the findings and recommendations of my thesis and commended the University of Nairobi for illuminating the role of academia in the legislative process,” says Eric in a letter to the Dean, School of Law, Prof. Kiarie Mwaura. “Notably, the thesis critically analyzed the Lifestyle Audit Bill, 2019 that was at the material time, pending before Senate. I have since honoured the Senate’s request for recommendations to strengthen the Bill.”
In addition, the Attorney General has recognized the thesis as a valuable tool in the anti-corruption legal reform and has indicated that the recommendations will be implemented.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) forwarded to the National Assembly proposals for amendment of various anti-corruption law statutes as recommended in the thesis.
“I am humbled by the overwhelming interest that this thesis continues to generate among key agencies in the fight against corruption,” says Eric.
Eric wrote the paper under the supervision of Prof. Ben Sihanya. The defence panel was chaired by Dr. Nancy Baraza with Dr. Jackson Bett as the reader. The panel scored the research work at grade A. Eric graduated from the University on December 20, 2019.
