APRM • SECOND COUNTRY REVIEW REPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA 2.53 There are several key challenges hindering the fight against corruption. These include the slow judicial process and adverse court decisions, which affect the operations of the EACC, acute shortage of human capacity for the EACC to carry out its functions nationwide. The situation is exacerbated with the devolution of functions. 2.54 In order to make a success of the anti-corruption war, a Task Force was appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in March 2015 to the Review of Legal, Policy and Institutional Framework for Fighting Corruption. The report of the Task Force is very comprehensive and telling. The wide-ranging recommendations of the Task Force covered legal, policy, institutional frameworks, partnerships and multi-agency collaboration, technical assistance, capacity-building, strict adherence to the Constitution of Kenya, among others, in the fight against corruption. The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Task Force and has commenced implementation. 2.55 Public discourse on corruption has continued right from independence to the present, outlasting governments and the leaders of government business, underscoring the point that perhaps there is no better evidence of the need for the emergence of a critical mass of transformational leadership committed to change in the running of public and not-so-public affairs in a strategic and “business unusual” manner. Leadership matters, and to that extent a change in the orientation of leadership in and outside of government, indeed in all spheres of life, toward providing vision of a future relatively free of corruption and the inspiration for attaining that goal is urgently required. Such a change would help to significantly build on the current level of success recorded in the anti-corruption war in all spheres of Kenyan society. 3. Poverty and Inequality: the Challenge of Inclusive Growth 2.56 Kenya’s economy, the biggest in East Africa, sustained robust growth averaging about 5.5% during 2012-2015 and is projected to grow at 6.0% in 2016 (KNBS 2016). The economy is largely private sector-led (accounting for about 87.5% of GDP) and the growth is driven by sustained institutional reform, robust macroeconomic policies, infrastructure investments, strong agricultural and industrial sector production as well as service sector growth (banking, tourism, etc.). Indeed Kenya is emerging as one of East Africa’s growth centres. Estimated at about US$1,377 in 2015, Kenya’s income per capita has grown at average of about 8% per annum since 2011 (World Bank 2016). 2.57 However, poverty and inequality are a major challenge to Kenya’s inclusive and sustained social economic development and transformation. According to the latest national statistics, about 45% of the population (which translates to over 20 million) live below the national poverty line3. Food security is a major concern to many households: 3 out of 10 households do not have enough food or money to buy food in the seven days preceding the survey; and stunting affects over one out every four children under five years (KNBS 2015). Government of Kenya, June 2016, Progress in Achievement of Millennium Development Goals in Kenya Final Status Report 3 | 45 |