NAIROBI, KENYA,OCT 23-The Ethics and Anti corruption commission(EACC) has cautioned the state and public officers who are operating bank accounts outside Kenya without approval of the commission.
The Commission shed light in it’s concerns regarding the compliance of the mandatory requirements that are supposed to be followed by account holders who are state and public officers conducting diplomatic missions abroad.
EACC stressed that according to section 19 of LIA and Regulation 14 of the LIA 2015, an account holder operating with a bank account outside the Country should submit annual bank account statements to the commission.
“Article 76(2)(a) of the constitution as read together with section 19 of LIA and Regulation 14 of the LIA Regulations,2015 provide that a state officer shall not open or continue to operate a bank account outside Kenya without the approval of EACC,” stated the statement released by EACC.
“Subsequently, the account holder is required to submit annual bank account statements to EACC not later than 31st January of each succeeding year and upon closure to notify and furnish EACC with evidence of such closure within 30 days,” Further read the statement.
The Commission further clarified that the requirements apply for all bank accounts outside Kenya opened or controlled by a state public officer, including temporary purposes which include; facilitating travel , education or mental treatment; whether for the officer or any other person as long as it is the opening or controlling the bank account.
Operating a bank account outside Kenya without the approval of the commission is an offence and consequently the individual will face a not more than five year imprisonment or a fine of five million shillings or both.
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