Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said yesterday that it has stepped up the fight against public servants operating illegal bank accounts in foreign countries saying they will face court action.
Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak (pictured) warned that State or public officers failing to declare their accounts in foreign countries risk prosecution.

“State or public officers who fails to declare operation or control of bank accounts outside Kenya commits an offence and shall, upon conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or a fine not exceeding five million shillings, or both,” said Mbarak in a public notice to State and public officers.

Public funds

The commission in its efforts to fight theft of public funds and money laundering announced it has automated the process for seeking approval to open or continue to operate bank accounts outside Kenya. The automated process also allows submission of annual statements of account, as well as submission of notices for closure.

The commission yesterday outlined Section 19(2) of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 as read together with Regulation 14 of the Leadership and Integrity Regulations, 2015 requiring that state or public officers who have reasonable grounds for opening or operating a bank account outside Kenya shall apply for the EACC for approval to open or operate the bank account.