Mudavadi calls for accountability, fairer global institutions to restore public trust

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has called for stronger accountability, inclusive governance and reforms to global institutions, saying public confidence can only be restored when leaders demonstrate integrity, fairness and tangible results.

Speaking on Thursday during the second day of the Global Trust Summit in Nairobi, Mudavadi warned that declining public trust threatened the foundations of institutions, economic prosperity and international cooperation.

He said institutions must earn public confidence through their actions rather than demand unquestioning loyalty from citizens.

“The strongest institutions are not those that ask people to trust them blindly, but those that inspire confidence through their conduct while remaining transparent, answerable and open to scrutiny,” Mudavadi said.

The Prime CS cautioned against treating public confidence in political leaders as a substitute for accountability, citing an Afrobarometer working paper based on survey data from 37 African countries.

The study found that greater trust in presidents and ruling parties was associated with weaker public support for accountability mechanisms, including parliamentary oversight, media scrutiny and citizens' ability to hold governments to account.

Mudavadi, who also doubles as the Foreign Affairs CS, argued that trust and accountability should reinforce each other, with institutions maintaining transparency and remaining open to scrutiny.

He also raised concerns over declining public confidence in science, citing the Wellcome Global Monitor 2026, which found that the proportion of people who believed most people in their country benefited from science fell from 42 per cent in 2018 to 37 per cent in 2025.

According to Mudavadi, rebuilding confidence in science requires credible evidence, fairness, accessible healthcare and openness about uncertainty, alongside efforts to demonstrate how scientific advances improve people's lives.

He further described trust as an economic asset that facilitates business and cooperation, noting that contracts and legal safeguards alone cannot replace integrity and a reputation for keeping one's word.

“Trust is also economic infrastructure,” he said, warning that societies risk prioritising transactions and profits over ethical conduct when outcomes are valued more than the means used to achieve them.

Mudavadi also called for reforms to international institutions to make them more representative, arguing that fairness and effective delivery were essential to restoring public confidence.

He singled out Africa's lack of a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, saying the continent should have a direct role in decisions affecting its security and future.

He said permanent African representation, in line with the African Union's Common African Position, would strengthen the legitimacy of the United Nations among African citizens.

The Prime CS urged delegates to move beyond declarations and develop a practical framework for rebuilding trust, including clear commitments, a coalition of actors responsible for implementation and a credible mechanism for tracking progress.

“It is my wish that Nairobi be remembered not simply as the place where the world discussed trust, but as the place where we strengthened our resolve to become more trustworthy,” he said.

The summit also heard calls for stronger trust between Kenya and Tanzania, with Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, James Millya, outlining progress in resolving non-tariff barriers affecting cross-border trade.

Millya said the two countries had identified 68 trade barriers, of which 54 had been resolved, leaving 14 outstanding.

Despite their shared customs union and common market, traders continue to face repeated inspections, delays and unexpected charges at border points.

“The last fourteen are where trust is won or lost,” Millya said.

He cited bilateral agreements signed in May 2026, including common standards to prevent goods already certified from undergoing repeat inspections at Namanga and Holili, a 30-day window for resolving disputes and quarterly reporting on implementation.

Tanzania has also removed its Industrial Development Levy on a range of Kenyan goods, he said.

However, bilateral trade declined from approximately US$950 million (Ksh.123 billion) in 2024 to US$860 million (Ksh.111billion) in 2025, while traders with complaints continued to lack a clear channel for resolving their concerns.

Millya said Tanzania would designate a focal point to follow up trade complaints with Kenya within the agreed 30-day period. The country also plans to propose regular consultations with traders, truckers, women and young traders operating at Namanga and Holili.

He said the success of the measures would be measured by faster clearance of goods, fewer repeat inspections and timely resolution of complaints rather than the signing of agreements alone.

The Global Trust Summit, running in Nairobi from October 21 to 23, brings together public-sector leaders and other stakeholders to explore how trust can strengthen governance, resilient societies, inclusive economies and international cooperation.