Contract transparency has rapidly emerged as a critical governance issue globally. It is even more critical in the extractive sector where contracts tend to be negotiated at government executive level and are often closed to public scrutiny. With greater contract transparency, citizens can better understand and monitor the contracts, compliance with the terms therein, and payments made to their governments. Moreover, contract transparency helps to better manage the taxes collected from extractive industry companies and operations.

Contract transparency is especially critical in uncertain times such as now. Like in many countries globally, Kenya has experienced a decrease in activities in the extractive sector, owing at least in part to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has also significantly disrupted normal life and business processes. The country is also heading towards a general election in August 2022, an election that will herald a transition of power and government authority to a new regime. Such times call on the citizenry to stay vigilant and monitor the activities of the extractive sector, especially with regard to transparency and accountability in licensing, contracting, revenue collection and expenditure.

This webinar will discuss why transparency in mineral licensing and revenue distribution and expenditure is critical now as Kenya muddles through the pandemic, with a ‘transitional’ general elections around the corner. Among other issues, it will explore why and how the public and stakeholders can remain vigilant with regard to public scrutiny of mining licensing and revenue expenditure. It will also explore how contract and revenue transparency can help better mobilize and manage domestic resources for socio-economic goals such as the health needs occasioned by the pandemic.

The webinar will lay the foundation and constitute the first in a series of webinars that ILEG intends to organize on transparency and accountability in the extractive sector. The webinar is organized around two sub-topics: the mineral licensing process and procedures; and monitoring of mineral licensing, revenue distribution and expenditure. The webinar will be moderated by Benson Ochieng, and will feature three panelists: Eng. Philip Kirui, Head of Mine Safety, Health and Environment Section at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining; Faith Pesa, Principal State Council at the National Treasury and Planning; and Mr. Tom Onyango, Monitoring & Evaluation Expert and Executive Director at Jasatet.