Nairobi — Whistleblower protection legislation is still weak throughout the Sub Saharan Africa region, a newly released report by Transparency International has revealed.
According to the Transparency International 2022 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), many countries like Kenya do not have a standalone law on whistleblower protection undermining the war against graft in the region.
However, in countries that do have such laws or policies, like Nigeria, their exists loopholes or implementation is seriously lacking.
The report argues that those who have taken a stand against corruption continue to face intimidation and threats due to lack of laws protecting them.
"This can be seen in Madagascar where the executive director and board chair of Transparency International's national chapter are facing criminal charges after calling for investigations into companies involved in the Malagasy lychee trade," the report says.
"Such cases demonstrate the enormous risks that anti-corruption activists and whistle blowers take when they speak up against corruption in many countries across Sub-Saharan Africa,"
The report comes even as countries in East Africa continue to top in corruption cases with Somalia ranking higher among the most corrupt countries in East Africa at 12 points out of 100
It is closely followed by South Sudan (13) Burundi (17) and Equatorial Guinea (17).
Kenya managed 32 out of Hundred points ranking position 123 out of 180 countries.
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Seychelles continues to lead the region with a CPI score of 70, followed by Botswana and Cabo Verde, each with 60.
It further states that a regional average score of 32 out of 100 marks another year of stagnation on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for the Sub-Saharan Africa.
Forty four of the 49 countries assessed still score below 50 points.
The report argues that this year's CPI results underline how intertwined paths of democracy, security and development in Sub-Saharan Africa are eroded by corruption - particularly during a time of global crises.
"Conflict and security challenges have further weakened institutions and undermined states' capacity to decisively respond to corruption. This has also meant little to no action in preventing capital flight - estimated to be in tens of billions of dollars each year - from the region," it adds.
The report further argues that extensive funds are needed to address the consequences of economic, ecological and healthcare challenges adding that measures must be put in place to ensure they are not squandered.
