Legal ForumExample Category: LSK Kajiado ForumPresident Ruto Signs Conflict of …Post Reply

Post Reply: President Ruto Signs Conflict of Interest Bill into Law After Intense Parliamentary Battle

<blockquote><div class="quotetitle">Quote from <a class="profile-link highlight-moderator" href="https://lawguide.co.ke/understanding-law/legal-forum/profile/lawyer/">Lawyer</a> on July 30, 2025, 10:05 am</div><div id="pl-7295"  class="panel-layout" ><div id="pg-7295-0"  class="panel-grid panel-no-style" ><div id="pgc-7295-0-0"  class="panel-grid-cell"  data-weight="1" ><div id="panel-7295-0-0-0" class="so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child" data-index="0" data-style="{&quot;background_image_attachment&quot;:false,&quot;background_display&quot;:&quot;tile&quot;,&quot;background_image_size&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;background_image_opacity&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;border_thickness&quot;:&quot;1px&quot;}" ><div
			
			class="so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base"
			
		>
<div class="siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget">
	<p dir="ltr" data-pm-slice="1 1 []">President William Ruto has officially assented to the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023, following a prolonged and contentious struggle with Parliament. The legislation, aimed at preventing public officials from exploiting their positions for personal gain, marks a cornerstone of Ruto’s anti-corruption agenda, though its passage was fraught with resistance and debate.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The bill’s journey to becoming law was anything but smooth. Initially passed by the National Assembly, the legislation faced significant amendments in the Senate that weakened its original provisions. President Ruto, dissatisfied with the diluted version, returned the bill to Parliament in April 2025 with a memorandum outlining reservations on 12 key clauses he deemed essential for robust anti-corruption measures. These included stricter definitions of conflict of interest, the inclusion of family and relatives in the law’s scope, and enhanced powers for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to pursue asset recovery from officials who fail to disclose their wealth.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Senate’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, chaired by Senator Hillary Sigei, reviewed the President’s recommendations but accepted only three of his proposed changes, specifically those related to clauses defining material changes in income and assets and clarifying the EACC’s role. The committee rejected broader reforms, such as redefining conflict of interest to include real, potential, and perceived conflicts, arguing that the inclusion of perceived conflicts was too subjective and could lead to enforcement challenges. Similarly, the committee dismissed the President’s push to reinstate definitions of family and relative, citing concerns that terms like affinity were too vague and could be misused for political harassment.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This rejection sparked a fierce tug-of-war between the executive and legislative branches. Ruto publicly criticized Parliament for delaying the bill, emphasizing its importance in eliminating conflicts of interest that have long fueled corruption in Kenya. In a November 2024 address, he urged lawmakers to stop dragging their feet and warned that he would veto any version of the bill that failed to meet high standards of accountability and integrity. The Senate’s refusal to adopt most of the President’s recommendations meant that overriding his reservations would require a two-thirds majority, a threshold that remained uncertain as debates continued.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Despite the resistance, a mediation process between the National Assembly and Senate eventually led to a compromise version of the bill that addressed some of the President’s concerns while retaining certain parliamentary amendments. The final legislation introduces stringent penalties for public officials found engaging in state business for personal enrichment and establishes clearer boundaries between public duties and private interests. It also repeals the Public Officer Ethics Act of 2003, incorporating transitional provisions to ensure a seamless shift to the new legal framework.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The assent of the Conflict of Interest Bill comes at a critical time, as public demand for accountability in governance grows stronger. The law aims to close loopholes that have allowed public officers to amass wealth through state contracts, often using proxies to bypass scrutiny. By enforcing transparency and accountability, the bill aligns with constitutional principles of good governance and is expected to strengthen the EACC’s ability to combat corruption.</p>
<p dir="ltr">However, the watered-down provisions have raised concerns among reformists who argue that the bill, while a step forward, falls short of the comprehensive overhaul needed to tackle systemic corruption. Critics point to the Senate’s rejection of broader definitions and enhanced EACC powers as missed opportunities to create a more robust anti-corruption framework.</p>
<p dir="ltr">President Ruto, in a statement following the bill’s assent, reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption, describing it as one of the most pressing challenges facing his administration. He called on independent institutions, including the EACC, to uphold their mandates and meet the expectations of Kenyans in ensuring integrity in public service.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The passage of the Conflict of Interest Bill follows other recent legislative victories for Ruto’s administration, including the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill, assented to in June 2025, and the Division of Revenue Bill, which allocated Sh415 billion to counties for the 2025/26 financial year. These laws reflect the government’s broader efforts to strengthen financial oversight and promote equitable resource distribution.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As Kenya moves forward with implementing the Conflict of Interest Bill, all eyes will be on its enforcement and the EACC’s ability to hold public officials accountable. While the legislation represents progress in the fight against corruption, its effectiveness will depend on the commitment of both the government and independent institutions to uphold its provisions and address the challenges that have long plagued public service integrity.</p>
</div>
</div></div></div></div></div></blockquote><br>

Cancel

Legal Forums

Post Reply: President Ruto Signs Conflict of Interest Bill into Law After Intense Parliamentary Battle

Recent Posts

Crisis at Kenyatta National Hospital: Senators Demand Action on Overcrowding and Security Failures

Court Orders Equal Pay for UHC Nurses Amid Absorption Plan