The recent fiasco surrounding allegations of compromised Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS)passwords and attempts to embezzle funds from government coffers should serve as a wake-up call. The integrity of our information systems is an urgent priority.
To be fair, Kenya is not the first country to experience IFMIS challenges. In fact, in Malawi, Joyce Banda’s recent failure to win a second term as president has been attributed to IFMIS-related corruption scandals.
The objective of IFMIS is in line with most automation projects – to increase efficiency, transparency and accountability. What most people forget, though, is that automation by itself is not a magic bullet against corruption.
In fact, if a developer blindly – or deliberately – automates corrupt processes, the end result is the enhancement and increased efficiency of corrupt activities. Wheeler-dealers can now enjoy the convenience of embezzling funds from their laptops, rather than having to walk to government offices with big brown envelopes in broad daylight.
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