UNODC Hosts Asset Management Workshop in Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenya Asset Management Workshop, held from October 22 to 24, 2024, brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including government officials, legal experts, and asset management specialists from Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia. Key Kenyan institutions represented included the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the Financial Reporting Centre, the Revenue Authority, the Wildlife Service, the National Police Service, the Asset Recovery Agency, and the Judiciary.
International expertise was provided by facilitators from the Botswana Office of the Receiver, the Namibian Police Force, the Namibia Office of the Prosecutor General, the Namibia Ministry of Justice, Nigeria’s PCM Asset Management Corporation, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority, and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Together, these participants focused on tackling Kenya’s unique challenges in asset management, while exploring strategies to enhance transparency, accountability, and the effective use of recovered assets for public benefit.
On the first day, participants delved into Kenya’s pressing challenges in asset management. A panel on “Public, Private, or Hybrid Systems” prompted a lively debate on the role of government and private partnerships in managing assets, with presenters from Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia sharing their countries’ approaches. Through these discussions, participants began to form a clearer vision for Kenya's asset management structure, weighing the advantages and potential pitfalls of different models.
Day two shifted the focus to transparency and accountability, pivotal themes in asset management. Sessions outlined methods for ensuring the secure and ethical disposal of assets, while exploring both centralized and decentralized management systems. Experts shared how a centralized system could streamline oversight and resources, while a decentralized model might prevent mismanagement by dispersing control. Each country represented offered a perspective based on its own experience, allowing Kenyan stakeholders to consider multiple pathways for their own asset management framework. The discussions underscored the importance of accountability and public trust in the handling of seized assets.
The workshop culminated on the third day with breakout sessions and a plenary discussion, encouraging participants to examine the core features of an effective asset management system. Drawing from global best practices, these sessions brought forward practical recommendations for Kenya’s framework. By the day’s end, a consolidated list of actionable steps had emerged, serving as a guide for policy updates and operational improvements in Kenyan asset management.
Key takeaways from the workshop included the need for clear frameworks and guidelines to ensure consistency, as well as the critical role of public awareness and transparency. International cooperation was highlighted as a valuable component, with experts agreeing that cross-border collaboration and benchmarks could bolster Kenya’s ability to track and manage assets effectively. Transparent public communications around asset recovery and utilization were also deemed essential for building trust and reinforcing the accountability of managing institutions.
As the workshop concluded, participants reflected on the path ahead. An attendee noted that "the workshop has been very insightful. The insights and recommendations gathered over the three days provide Kenya with a strong foundation for building an asset management system that not only acts as a crime deterrent but also serves the public good”. Through strategic reforms, enhanced oversight, and a commitment to transparency and accountability, Kenya’s asset management landscape is poised for transformative progress, supporting a future where recovered assets contribute meaningfully to society. Attendees left with hopes for continued learning opportunities and future collaborative workshops.
