70 entities contribute to Kuwait’s new national anti-corruption roadmap
Nazaha unveils details of an unprecedented, society-wide integrity strategy; participatory anti-corruption strategy to launch early next year
Khaled Al-Muzaini, Director of the Planning and Follow-up Office at the Public Authority for Combating Corruption (Nazaha), revealed that Kuwait’s new anti-corruption strategy is set to be launched in the first months of next year, with a participatory approach forming its central pillar.
Al-Muzaini explained that work is currently underway on the second phase of the strategy, which focuses on drafting. This phase witnessed wide participation from 70 entities representing government institutions, the private sector, academic and research bodies, and civil society organizations, in addition to 250 experts from various fields, reports Al-Rai daily.
The process resulted in 82 proposals, which will be refined and filtered, reflecting what he described as “a high level of positive engagement.”
He noted that the first phase of the strategy, completed in March, was dedicated to evaluating the previous national anti-corruption strategy, which was launched in 2019 and continued through this year.
Al-Muzaini added that the preparation process relied on extensive data collection, including 64 statistical and database inputs, alongside 11 specialized workshops and 15 evaluation meetings to ensure accuracy and inclusiveness.
Commenting on Nazaha’s recent win of the Arab Government Excellence Award for “Best Arab Initiative for Developing Government Work,” Al-Muzaini said the honor was granted for the “Kuwait Strategy for Promoting Integrity and Combating Corruption.”
The award, presented under the patronage of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in cooperation with the League of Arab States, was based on several criteria, including sound technical methodology, follow-up and evaluation mechanisms, sustainability, transparency in reporting, and tangible outcomes.
He explained that the evaluation process went through multiple stages, beginning with document submission, followed by in-depth interviews with specialized assessment teams, and concluding with the submission of supporting evidence within a tight timeframe. Al-Muzaini described the process as highly professional and rigorous.
Al-Muzaini stressed that this marks Nazaha’s first participation in the award and described the achievement as a collective national effort involving multiple institutions. He emphasized that the recognition places an even greater responsibility on Nazaha as it prepares to roll out the next strategy.
Describing the initiative as unprecedented, Al-Muzaini said the completed strategy is the first of its kind in Kuwait and the region in terms of its inclusive, participatory nature, involving both official and non-official sectors.
He added that the strategy received high-level political backing and was originally launched under the patronage of the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
He also noted that the Cabinet had tasked Nazaha with forming a supreme committee of around 21 members to oversee and coordinate the strategy, underscoring the strong political support behind the initiative.
Reflecting on the previous strategy, Al-Muzaini said it was characterized by clear governance and implementation mechanisms, including a supreme oversight committee, four technical committees aligned with the strategy’s core pillars, transparent information-sharing systems, and regular publication of performance indicators.
As evidence of the strategy’s impact, he cited flagship projects such as the government’s “Sahel” application, which simplified and digitized access to public services. Since its launch in 2021, the platform expanded from 16 participating entities to 42, serving more than three million users.
Al-Muzaini also highlighted key legislative achievements aligned with the strategy’s priorities, including laws on access to information, conflict of interest, expanded criminal liability for corruption crimes to include legal entities, and amendments to Nazaha’s law to broaden its powers—measures he described as critical milestones in strengthening Kuwait’s integrity framework.
