KIACS was developed within a strategic partnership with the GSSCPD, UNODC, and the UNDP. It is a comprehensive national strategy that aims to promote integrity and transparency in Kuwait. KIACS has 4 main pillars: Public Sector, Private Sector, Society, and Specialized Bodies. The strategy has 13 priorities and 47 initiatives. Each initiative has an implementation plan, with specific activities, and indicators.

Kuwait Integrity and Anticorruption Strategy 2019 - 2024

Fifth Annual Report

The establishment law of Nazaha (2/2016) stipulates that government officials, from department directors up to the Prime Minister, must submit their financial disclosures to Nazaha. In this disclosure, government officials declare their assets and debts. It is submitted on specific legal dates. Nazaha inspects these disclosures, and when illicit gains are suspected, Nazaha refers the officials to the Public Prosecution.

Nazaha receives whistleblower reports on corruption crimes in a confidential manner. It verifies whether corruption crimes have been committed. Its establishment law enables Nazaha to request papers and data from the relevant bodies and summon persons to hear their statements. When a corruption crime is suspected, Nazaha refers the case to the Public Prosecution. Additionally, Nazaha can conduct investigations based on information on traditional and social media. Its investigators have the authority to collect information to identify corruption crimes.

Nazaha is responsible for providing protection to whistleblowers of corruption crimes. It maintains the confidentiality of their identity from the time of submission of the corruption report. It is also committed to representing the whistleblower before judicial authorities. This protection extends to whistleblowers, witnesses, experts, and victims of corruption when providing testimony related to criminal acts and substantial evidence supporting the veracity of their reports. Nazaha provides three forms of protection:

1. Personal protection, which ensures the non-disclosure of the whistleblower's identity or whereabouts and may involve providing personal guard or a new place of residence.
2. Administrative and functional protection, which prevents any adverse administrative actions against the whistleblower and guarantees the retention of their salary, rights, and benefits.
3. Legal protection, which ensures that the whistleblower will not face criminal, civil, or disciplinary measures as a result of fulfilling their national duty to report and combat corruption offenses.

Nazaha has contributed to the drafting of several laws, legislations, and regulations related to anticorruption in line with the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Among the issued laws are:

• Law No. 12 of 2020 on the Right to Access Information and its executive regulations.
• Law No 1 of 2023 prohibiting the Conflict of Interests and its executive regulations.
• Law No. 2 of 2023 amending the penal code to expand the liability of legal persons in corruption crimes.

• Criminalizing bribery in the private sector, the bribery of foreign public officials, as well as officials of public international organizations.

Nazaha is committed to preventing corruption and involving society in its efforts to combat this issue while raising awareness about corruption and its dangers. Nazaha's efforts include:

• Incorporating anticorruption values into educational curricula and activities.
• Cooperating with the private sector to encourage its role in raising awareness of integrity and ethics, including through the Bankee Initiative.
• Launching workshops and campaigns to raise awareness of corruption and its prevention, in cooperation with the public and private sectors as well as civil society.
• Conclude bilateral MOUs with other national authorities to prevent and raise awareness on corruption.
• Hosting annual forums to celebrate the International Anti-Corruption Day and shed light on anticorruption topics.
• Collaborating with civil society organizations and promoting their oversight role.
• Cooperating with places of worship in promoting ethics and values.
• Coordinating with the media to raise awareness of society on the dangers of corruption.

International cooperation among anti-corruption agencies and international organizations is crucial for the effective implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Nazaha is committed to enhancing cooperation at the international, regional, and bilateral levels, and it has taken various initiatives, including:

Through its participation in this conference, Nazaha seeks to highlight the State of Kuwait's efforts in preventing and combating of corruption. It will showcase the latest efforts in the use of information and communications technology, digitization of government procedures, and its pioneering experiences in promoting the values of transparency, integrity, and accountability within the educational system. Nazaha is keen to engage in all forums that will strengthen the international presence of the State of Kuwait. This is in recognition of the role of such forums in facilitating the exchange of information with counterparts and identifying best practices that can enhance the efforts in the fight against corruption.

Citizen Report 2024 - 2025

Annual Report 2024-2025