President William Ruto has referred the Conflict of Interest Bill back to Parliament for reconsideration.
Speaking during the swearing in of new cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries on Thursday at State House, Ruto said the bill falls short of what Kenyans expect in the fight against corruption.
“I expect both Houses of Parliament to exercise leadership in making sure we get a piece of law that help us manage and eventually eliminate matters corruption, that in many cases come as a result of conflict of interest by public officials who serve not the public, but their interests,” Ruto stated.
The head of state reaffirmed his commitment to tackling corruption and accountable leadership and integrity in public service.
Ruto said he would veto any version of the Bill that failed to set a high standard for accountability, integrity, and anti-corruption measures.
While the Bill as presented largely addresses the subject of conflict of interest, the President noted the need for further improvements to strengthen its provisions on transparency and enforcement to align it with the constitutional values of integrity and good governance.
The Conflict of Interest Bill seeks to establish a legal framework to prevent public officials from using their offices for personal gain.
It requires public servants to declare personal, family, and business interests that could affect their decision-making, and bars them from participating in matters where such interests exist.
The Bill also proposes restrictions on public officers doing business with government institutions and introduces post-employment limitations to prevent former officials from exploiting their past roles.
In addition, the legislation seeks to make it mandatory for public officers to regularly disclose their assets and income.
It also outlines penalties for non-compliance, including fines, imprisonment, and disqualification from holding public office.