Association of Professional Societies of East Africa (APSEA) has been lauded for its efforts to promote professionalism, accountability and good governance, and being in the frontline in the fight against corruption.
University Education and Research PS, Amb. Simon Nabukwesi said APSEA has been able to fight corruption through its participation in the Kenya Integrity Forum (KIF) that provides an inclusive anti-corruption framework for state and non-state actors to partner in corruption prevention.
“APSEA was involved in the development of the Nairobi County Budget and together with its professional bodies, has been implementing the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) now known as Kenya Integrity Plan (KIP),” he said. KIP is an initiative of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The PS was speaking during the official opening of a conference for Association of Professional Societies of East Africa Webinar on Professionalism and Accreditation at a Nairobi hotel.
The conference organized by APSEA, is aimed at educating and informing professionals and professional bodies on the mandates of other regulatory and accreditation agencies, to foster the improvement of academic quality and accountability as well as formulating a policy on development and regulations of professionals in East Africa.
Amb. Nabukwesi said the government recognizes that Professionals are the key drivers of a knowledge driven economy since they play a great role in providing direct input to the economic decisions at both policy and the implementation levels.
The PS also lauded APSEA for partnering with the Business Advocacy Fund (BAF) to facilitate the establishment of the APSEA’s Professional Network for member organizations to learn and support each other’s advocacy.
“It is commendable that APSEA has been pushing for advancement of the highest standards of professionalism, through assisting corporate members with development and review of legislations that regulate their professionals as well as development of code of conduct in partnership with the EACC,” stated Amb. Nabukwesi.
He said the engagement of the Ministry of East African Community with APSEA to sensitize its members’ states on the Common Market Protocol among the professionals, the body had been fully integrated into all Trade policy formulations in the country’s Economic Partnership Agreement negotiating team.
The PS said APSEA has encouraged an increase in trade services through the creation of a competitive East African Business, and announced that he was aware that APSEA lobbied the ministry of EAC to abolish requirements for work permits for East African professionals seeking to work in the country.
Amb. Nabukwesi urged APSEA to coordinate professional bodies such as University Councils, the Commission for University Education Engineers Board of Kenya, Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, Human Resource Management Board of Kenya among others to enable the body achieve its mission.
“APSEA should also work hand in hand with the Kenya Qualifications Framework Authority whose mandate is to articulate on qualifications offered in general education, vocational education and training, technical education and training, higher education and other qualifications offered by professional bodies and associations,” he stressed.
The conference themed, ‘Accreditation, Curriculum Development and Coordination of National Qualification frameworks of Professional programs in Kenya’ was attended by APSEA Council members.
By Moffin Opilio
