President William Ruto on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, led a significant event at State House, Nairobi, where the Ethics And Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) presented recovered assets back to the government.
Ruto praised the EACC for its successful efforts over the past five years in reclaiming assets worth a staggering Ksh28 billion.
“EACC has recovered assets valued at approximately Ksh28 billion over the last five years both cash and movable and immovable assets,” Ruto emphasized.
He further highlighted EACC’s proactive measures to protect public funds, citing their ability to avert the loss of around Ksh41 billion by deploying various tactics to disrupt corrupt networks.
“EACC has also effectively intervened to prevent the loss of public funds amounting to an estimated Ksh41 billion by deploying various strategies to disrupt corrupt networks,” he added.
The president recognized the significant strides made by the EACC in reclaiming illicitly obtained wealth and stressed the importance of such actions in the broader fight against corruption.
“I express my profound gratitude for the ongoing development of affordable housing in Nairobi City’s Industrial area, off Enterprise Road. This development is taking place on land recovered by EACC, and the beneficiaries will be many Kenyans who deserve economic inclusion,” he said.
Conflict of Interest Bill
Ruto also pressed members of parliament to expedite the approval of the Conflict of Interest Bill, which aims to enhance the EACC’s ability to fulfil its role more effectively.
While encouraging swift action, Ruto cautioned legislators against diluting the bill, vowing to reject any amendments that fall short of enforcing stringent standards of accountability and integrity.
“I have engaged with parliamentary leadership and urged parliament to swiftly pass the Conflict of Interest Bill.
“I am told there is a mediation process that is going on in parliament but I have told them with clarity that I will veto any bill that does not establish a high standard of accountability, integrity and anti-corruption measures.
“I will fully exercise my powers under 115 of the constitution to ensure that the bill meets the rigorous standards set out in the original draft bill because some amendments had been introduced to water down what the original bill envisaged,” Ruto stressed.
The Conflict of Interest Bill aims to become an Act of Parliament, designed to govern conflict of interest issues within Kenya’s public sector.
It seeks to foster public confidence in government institutions and mitigate risks such as corruption, favoritism, and bias, reinforcing the integrity of public service.
Moreover, the bill aims to build trust between citizens and public entities, potentially boosting public engagement, collaboration, and backing for government efforts.
The EACC’s work often intersects with anti-corruption efforts. If the Act is enacted into law, it would facilitate improved coordination between managing conflicts of interest and broader anti-corruption strategies, thereby optimizing their combined effectiveness.