ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba who is on a two-week tour of Denmark and Iceland on Friday held talks with Icelandic President H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson at his residence in Bessastraðir, Garðabaer, on the outskirts of the capital city, Reykjavik.
Namwamba said the talks centred on Political party partnerships between his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) affiliated political parties.
“ The political partnership is between my party and parties in Iceland and other Nordic countries like Denmark and Norway. The partnership will include capacity building, experience sharing, and fundraising support. I have secured crucial commitments here that will see me lead a delegation of party officials from Kenya to a historic political parties partnership summit here in Reykjavik,” said Namwamba.
The Budalangi MP said their talks further touched on support to oversight over public finance through Accountability Kenya (AK) which he chairs, the Kenya-Iceland Parliamentary partnership especially around geothermal/green energy development, development funding to specific projects in Kenya and Sports/cultural tourism exchanges.
Namwamba noted on May 21, AK will hold a high level consultative meeting in Nairobi with 30 Ambassadors under the Development Partners Group (DPG) that brings together the European Union (EU), United States, Canada and United Nations (UN) Missions.
“The agenda is to introduce AK to the diplomatic Corp and also review the state of accountability and oversight in Kenya. AK is concerned that there is a systematic assault on institutions of oversight and accountability, as evidenced by the attempts to disable PAC, EACC and the Auditor General's office. In view of this, AK is preparing a special "Report Card" on the State of Oversight and Accountability in Kenya". Namwamba told The Standard from Iceland.
He said AK is a registered independent umbrella body that brings together all key oversight agencies in Kenya, including the Kenya National Audit Office (KENAO), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Corruption Commission (EACC), Controller of Budget, ICPAK and all Public Accounts Committees of the 47 County Assemblies and the National Assembly.
“AK was founded in 2013 and officially unveiled in March, 2014 when I was elected Chair for a 3-year term, renewable. Other officials include MCA Kipyego Kitur (PAC Chair Trans Nzoia County Assembly) as Secretary General and CPA Fred Riaga of ICPAK as Treasurer,” noted Namwamba.
He said while in Europe, he was marketing AK and building international networks to strengthen oversight institutions and enhance our work of ensuring in accountability in the use of public funds at both national and county governments.
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