President William Ruto has officially signed into law the Conflict of Interest Bill, giving Kenya’s anti-corruption watchdog the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) more authority to hold public officers accountable.
The signing ceremony took place at State House Nairobi on Wednesday July 30 2025, where the President described the new law as a “milestone in Kenya’s fight against corruption.”
“This is a very consequential moment. We are making it harder for anyone to misuse public office,” President Ruto said.
The Conflict of Interest Act aims to prevent public officials from using their positions for personal gain. It introduces strict rules and accountability mechanisms to ensure transparency, fairness, and integrity in public service.
Key highlights of the law include, Unified legal standard for managing conflict of interest across government offices.
Repeal of the Public Officer Ethics Act to consolidate laws into one clear framework.
Prohibitions against preferential treatment and undue influence in awarding government contracts.
Restrictions on side jobs that may interfere with official duties.
And mandatory wealth declaration for public officers in all arms of government Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.
The EACC will now be in charge of overseeing compliance and enforcement across all levels of government.
“EACC now has the levers to protect public resources and ensure every official is accountable,” said President Ruto.
President Ruto had earlier returned the Bill to Parliament in April 2025, requesting several amendments. Parliament later agreed with his proposals, passing the final version in both the National Assembly (June 3, 2025) and the Senate (July 23, 2025).
During the same event, the President also signed the Social Protection Bill into law. This law establishes a rights-based framework to guarantee support for vulnerable Kenyans throughout their lives.
It aims to, Ensure non-contributory support for the elderly, disabled, orphans, and other vulnerable groups, Promote dignity, fairness, and resilience through government-coordinated programs and Improve access to essential services like healthcare and basic needs.
“Only the truly vulnerable will benefit, and the system will be efficient and transparent,” said Ruto.
The Social Protection program will be implemented jointly by the national and county governments.
Notable leaders present at the signing included, Moses Wetang’ula – Speaker of the National Assembly, Amason Kingi – Senate Speaker, Dorcas Oduor – Attorney General and Dr. Alfred Mutua – Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection.
