Nairobi's new training hub to nurture ethical leadership, transparency

National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo cuts a ribbon to launch Governance and Ethics Hub in Nairobi.

The Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) has opened a new training centre in Nairobi to boost ethical leadership and fight corruption in the public and private sectors.

 The facility, officially named the Governance and Ethics Hub, marks the completion of Phase I of a wider project aimed at expanding access to governance training across Kenya and the East African region.

 ICS is a statutory professional body under the National Treasury mandated to promote good governance, professional certification and sustainability through training and advocacy.

 The centre, launched on May 23 at ICS headquarters in Upper Hill, was unveiled by National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr Chris Kiptoo, who urged financial cooperatives and other institutions to adopt ethical practices and accountability.

 “We must entrench efficiency and transparency in all our institutions. This centre is a critical step toward building the governance capacity we need,” Kiptoo said.

 The Hub supports both in-person and blended learning and includes training spaces designed to build professional capacity in leadership, sustainability and institutional integrity.

 ICS says it needs Sh 300 million to fund Phase II, which will add six more floors with training rooms, innovation labs, research centres and eco-friendly features.

  The institute is calling on individuals, corporations and development partners to help support the project through financial or in-kind contributions.

 “We are building more than a facility — we are building a future of leaders who act accountably and think boldly,” said ICS CEO Jeremiah Karanja.

 The Hub is expected to train over 100,000 professionals annually, offer mentorship and internship pathways and promote governance-focused research and dialogue across sectors.

 The project began in April 2023 with a groundbreaking ceremony led by Dr Kiptoo, followed in April 2024 by the laying of the foundation stone by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Dr David Oginde.