President William Ruto has referred the Conflict of Interest Bill 2025 back to Parliament for reconsideration on key issues of integrity and corruption measures.
Ruto urged the parliamentarians to review the Bill, in order to set high standards for accountability, integrity, and anti-corruption measures.
“In my opinion, it doesn't meet the threshold of the expectation of the people of Kenya. As public servants, we can not afford to carry the baggage of self-interest into public service, and we must take accountability with the seriousness it deserves,” said Ruto.
The president noted that the Bill had largely addressed the issue of conflict of interest, calling for amendments to strengthen its provisions on transparency, integrity, and good governance.
“I expect both houses of Parliament to exercise leadership in making sure that we get a law that will help us manage and eliminate, eventually, matters of corruption that in many cases come as a result of the conflict of interest of public officials who serve their own interests,” he added.
Ruto took the move despite having mounted pressure on the lawmakers last year to pass the Bill, accusing them of stalling efforts to curb corruption.
“It is unacceptable for the Houses of Parliament to deny the country a much-needed instrument in the war on corruption by continuing to sabotage the passage of the Conflict of Interest Bill,” hes said in a State of the Nation address.
“I implore you to stop dragging your feet on this bill unless, my friends, there is a conflict of interest in the passing of the conflict of interest legislation.”
The Bill seeks to prevent public officials from using their positions to influence the decisions of other officers to further their individual interests.
It also seeks to impose stringent sanctions against government officials found culpable of engaging in business to amass ill-gotten wealth.
The President also assented to the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to remove the 25 per cent duty on imported fully assembled electric transformers and their parts.
