One of Africa's most outspoken opponents of corruption, John Githongo, will be coming to Canada to work with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Parliamentary Centre, and Queen's University as an IDRC Fellow. Mr. Githongo, the former Kenyan Permanent Secretary in charge of Governance and Ethics and a founding member of the Kenyan chapter of Transparency International, takes up his responsibilities on February 13, 2007. While in Canada, Mr. Githongo will complete a book based on his experience in fighting corruption and contribute
to knowledge on democratic development in Africa.

Mr. Githongo made international headlines in 2003 when President Mwai Kibaki - who had been elected in 2002 on a pledge to fight corruption - named him to lead the charge. IDRC previously supported Mr. Githongo's work to eradicate corruption when he was first appointed as Kenya's champion on governance and ethics. In 2005, two years after accepting the position, he was back in the international spotlight, this time for resigning while on travel in the UK. In January 2006, Mr. Githongo released a report outlining large-scale government fraud among Kenya's political elite.

"I am particularly pleased to be renewing my relationship with IDRC and with Canada," said Mr. Githongo. "In 2003, the speed and versatility of IDRC's response to the transition in Kenya had a significant impact on anti-corruption policy. I am confident that our collaboration will result in a
significant addition to the body of knowledge on this issue as it pertains to Africa."

"Mr. Githongo's presence in Canada will expand our understanding of policies to strengthen work on corruption and democratic development," said Maureen O'Neil, President of IDRC.

Mr. Githongo is a Senior Associate Member of St. Antony's College, Oxford University, with which he will retain close links. He will divide his time between the Parliamentary Centre, where he will contribute to its work in democracy and good governance, and Queen's University, Kingston, where he will collaborate on a major research initiative on Ethnicity and Democratic
Governance.