Accountability Frameworks for Democracies in Africa – A Push to Develop an Accountability Framework for Kenya.

Kenya stands at a crossroads: to continue managing corruption’s symptoms or to invest in a systemic solution. Despite the presence of robust laws, institutions, and anti-corruption campaigns, Kenya continues to experience pervasive corruption that erodes public trust, stalls economic growth, and undermines democratic governance. Corruption persists in the public and private sectors despite the establishment of oversight bodies such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). According to Transparency International (2024), Kenya ranks 126 out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index, with public losses estimated at over KES 800 billion annually, nearly a third of the national budget. While the legal infrastructure is in place, it lacks accountability, a functional, homegrown framework that links systems to results and institutions to citizen expectations.

The lack of enforceable accountability continues to paralyse oversight bodies such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), whose work remains undermined by political interference and weak prosecutorial follow-through. Institutions like the judiciary, the auditor-general, and procurement authorities operate in silos, limiting collective action. Development partners such as USAID and the European Union have begun withdrawing or redirecting funding, citing governance failures, a regional trend that affects not only Kenya but also fragile states across the Horn of Africa. The situation presents both a warning and an opportunity for a bold shift.

This policy brief proposes the development of a national accountability framework as the structural solution to Kenya’s (and, by extension, the Horn of Africa’s) deep-rooted governance failures. The framework must shift the focus from simply creating laws and institutions to embedding accountability mechanisms across governance, service delivery, public finance, and civic oversight. Such a framework would begin with a nationwide diagnostic: what assets, capacities, and systems does Kenya already have, and how can they be realigned for the public good? It would also emphasise civic education, public engagement, and the digitisation of performance monitoring to ensure real-time responsiveness and citizen empowerment.

An accountability framework will bridge this trust gap and provide a unifying structure through which government institutions, civil society, the private sector, and international donors can align their efforts. Scofield Associates, with its extensive record of accomplishment in governance research, political economy analysis, and monitoring and evaluation across Africa, is uniquely positioned to lead this initiative. Specifically, Scofield proposes to first co-develop an inclusive accountability framework with stakeholders; secondly, design and institutionalise a national accountability database; thirdly, conduct monitoring and evaluation to assess progress; and fourth, launch civic education campaigns to promote public buy-in.

The call to action is clear. Policymakers must champion this framework as a reform priority. Donors and development partners should support its design and implementation through technical and financial support. Civil society must mobilise communities to demand accountability. And the private sector must embrace transparent practices that reinforce public trust. An evidence-based, inclusive, and enforceable accountability framework is not only urgent but also transformative. It is time to move from intention to measurable impact.