NAIROBI — Forty-three African countries have agreed to establish a new continental research institution aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption, marking one of the most ambitious anti-graft coordination efforts on the continent in recent years.
The Centre for Anti-Corruption Studies and Research (CEREC), which will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, is expected to serve as a regional hub for policy research, data analysis, and technical support to anti-corruption authorities across Africa. Officials say the institution will focus on emerging challenges including cross-border bribery networks, illicit financial flows, digital corruption schemes, and asset recovery.
The decision was endorsed during the 8th General Assembly of the African Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (AAACA), held in Nairobi from June 16 to 18 and hosted by Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). Kenya was selected to host the centre after reportedly scoring higher than competing bids, including Egypt.
Senior officials present at the meeting included Kenya’s Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor, AAACA President Hisham El Rakaybi, and EACC Chair David Oginde, alongside delegates from across the continent. The gathering is expected to conclude with a “Nairobi Communiqué” outlining a coordinated framework for anti-corruption cooperation among member states.
Supporters of the initiative say the centre could strengthen evidence-based policymaking and improve coordination in recovering stolen assets, a persistent challenge for many African governments. They also frame it as a step toward deeper Pan-African cooperation on governance and accountability.
However, the announcement comes against a backdrop of ongoing corruption concerns in several participating countries, including Kenya itself, raising questions about implementation and political will. Critics caution that similar continental initiatives have previously struggled to move beyond declarations into sustained enforcement and measurable impact.
If effectively implemented, CEREC could position Nairobi as a key continental hub for governance research. But its long-term credibility will likely depend on whether member states translate research findings into real reforms on the ground.
