Public officers now barred from doing business with State

President William Ruto assents to the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023, and the Social Protection Bill, 2025, at State House, Nairobi.[PCS]

Public servants will be barred from conducting business with the government, according to a new law.

President William Ruto on Wednesday assented to the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2025, marking the end of a protracted push and pull between the National Assembly and the Senate.

The law prohibits public officers from offering special treatment, accepting job offers that may influence decisions, or engaging in contracts that present a conflict with their official duties.

Officials are also barred from holding interests in companies that do business with their departments or work in other jobs that interfere with their public responsibilities.

It also requires persons holding public offices to declare the assets, liabilities and sources of income of their spouses as well as children under the age of 18 after every two years.

They will further be required to disclose their personal or joint businesses and accounts and whether they are located within or outside the country.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has also been empowered as the sole institution that will be in charge of enforcing the new law. The watchdog will also institute forfeiture proceedings for undeclared or unexplained assets, and ensure compliance.

The law provides that one can file a complaint with EACC or any other relevant authority. It, however, prevents the same matter from being investigated by two agencies.

"We are now making it much more difficult for people to take advantage of the offices they occupy," said President Ruto.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki noted that the law not only sealed the loopholes traditionally exploited by corrupt officials to steal money from public coffers but also makes it much more difficult for them to use proxies to advance corruption.

In April, Ruto referred the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2025, back to Parliament for reconsideration on key issues of integrity and corruption measures, and urged members to ensure it sets high standards for accountability and integrity.

However, after a standoff between the National Assembly and the Senate on issues such as the definition of "conflict of interest", a consensus was reached and the Bill passed by both Houses on June 3 and July 23 respectively.

At the same time, the Head of State signed into law the Social Protection Bill, 2025, which sets out a clear framework to shield vulnerable citizens from poverty. It replaces the Social Assistance Act, and creates the National Board for Social Protection to coordinate, monitor, and improve service delivery under a centralised registry to track beneficiaries and reduce duplication.

The board will also determine the terms and conditions of under which social protection benefits may be granted and handle grievances.

The law also expanded the bracket of the cash transfer programme from the old and orphans but also to persons living with disability, those in extreme poverty and those affected by shocks.

During the debate on the Bill, MPs argued that it would introduce the much needed change and oversight in the administration of the programme.