This ranking is likely to steam opposition against the proposed Nairobi International Financial Centre which anti illicit financial flows crusaders believe will turn Kenya into a tax haven like Panama, Luxembourg and Bahamas
Last year, Jared Maranga, policy-lead tax and investment at Tax Justice Network said that the NIFC law signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta in July last year brings about the issue of secrecy as several provisions relating to its establishment fall short of transparency and accountability.
"It will undermine the raising of revenues domestically, making Kenya a financial secrecy jurisdiction and is subject to abuse given that neither the regulations nor the incentives have been indicated,” said Maranga.
Even so, Treasury CS Henry Rotich has defended the financial hub which is expected to be set up in Upper Hill, saying that it will attract more foreign investors in the country.
Speaking during the launch of Africa Foresight report compiled by Brooking late last month, Rotich said that that the government will increase efficiency in curbing illicit financial flows in its plan to increase domestic revenue to 25 per cent of GDP
According to Africa Foresight report, Sub Sahara Africa loses at least $50 billion (Sh5 trillion) every year to illicit financial flows, mis pricing and other forms of capital flight, with countries like Togo and Liberia losing 94.2 and 83 per cent of total trade to illicit outflows
Generally, 5.3 to 9.9 per cent of Sub Saharan Africa total trade is lost in illicit financial outflows
Even so, the survey ranked Kenya as the least affected country in Africa. Only 0.7 per cent of its total trade is lost to illicit outflows
However, the African Development Bank survey on illicit financial flows in Kenya dubbed 'The High 5' show that the country lost over $10.6 billion in accumulated illicit financial flows, a figure that is equal to 15 per cent of the country's GDP
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Kenya tops illicit financial activities in Africa - report
Kenya is the leading tax haven in Africa, Financial Secrecy Index released on Friday last week by the Tax Justice Network has revealed The country registered a financial secrecy score of 80 per cent, sixth highest in the world after Vanuatu, Bahamas,