President Ruto Vetoes, Refers Conflict of Interest Bill Back to Parliament
President William Ruto vetoed the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023, and referred it back to Parliament for not meeting the expectations of Kenyans
Speaking at State House, Nairobi, during the swearing in of new cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries on Thursday, Ruto expressed his expectations that both the National Assembly and Senate will work in collaboration to produce a law that would effectively address and eliminate corruption.
“I have just referred back to Parliament the Conflict-of-Interest Bill. We get a piece of law that helps 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 not the public but their own interests,” Ruto said.
With this latest move, Members of Parliament will require a two-thirds majority in order to overturn the President’s veto on the draft legislation, which prohibits public officers from engaging in activities that conflict with public interest, imposes obligations to declare potential conflicts, and creates penalties for violations.
The President had previously vowed to reject the bill based on amendments that he says sought to limit the powers of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and its efforts against graft.
The new amendments approved by Parliament gave MPs, governors, Cabinet and Principal Secretaries, and parastatal heads a green light to seek government tenders and do business with the government.
