President William Ruto has announced legal reforms to fight graft, ordered a speedy probe into alleged police excesses and hinted at compensation of victims of the Gen Z protests.
Speaking at State House in Nairobi on Wednesday, Ruto said he would push amendments to anti-graft laws to ensure all corruption cases are cleared within six months.
“What has emerged as the foremost national concern requiring urgent and decisive action is the vexing matter of corruption,” the President said.
He stated that his administration would propose amendments to the Evidence Act, the Criminal Procedure Code, among other necessary legislative amendments to all statutes relating to corruption.
The proposed changes will expedite the investigation and prosecution of corruption and economic crimes and provide for their conclusion within six months.
“We shall also be proposing amendments to the Witness Protection Act to overhaul the statutory and institutional framework to protect and incentivise whistle-blowers,” the President said.
Ruto stated that the changes will enhance witness protection and make it easier and safer for citizens to come forward and report corruption as well as other criminal activities.
Within 90 days, the President added, his administration will propose amendments to the Public Finance Management Act and the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.
The changes will overhaul the institutional and operational framework of public procurement, which has been identified as the epicentre of corruption, conflict of interest and abuse of office in the public sector.
The amendments will also see the deployment of digital infrastructure within six months.
“The aim of these measures is to provide an open and transparent public procurement platform which gives open, real-time and end-to-end public visibility of public procurement from advertisement to award of contracts,” he said.
The Head of State said he has engaged Parliament to expeditiously pass the Conflict of Interest Bill currently under consideration.
He has informed the parliamentary leadership that he would veto any bill enacted if it does not establish a high bar concerning accountability, integrity and anti-corruption measures.
“I will make full use of the power given to me under Article 115 of the Constitution to make sure that the bill meets the appropriate standards set out in the original bill,” he said.
The warning comes as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has protested the ‘dilution’ of the Conflict of Interest Bill by the Senate.
The agency claimed that the Senate watered down the bill by allowing state officers to do business with the government.
Ruto said the Executive would be working with Parliament to provide a legislative and regulatory framework to make transparent the process on tax expenditure, especially on VAT refunds.
“The government will also work with Parliament to tighten legislation to reduce and eliminate imports of goods and products manufactured in Kenya to promote our value addition, manufacturing and industrialisation programme to create jobs and wealth locally,” he said.
The President asked the criminal justice agencies that people who may have been innocently caught up on the wrong side of protests and those not implicated in crime are released and the charges against them withdrawn.
“This will enable the agencies to focus their resources, efforts and time on investigating and prosecuting serious criminal elements who took advantage of peaceful demonstrations to advance a dangerous agenda,” he said.
Kenyans, including civil society and the opposition, have been calling for the withdrawal of all cases related to the protests.
At least 50 people have been killed, hundred of others injured and property of unknown value looted and destroyed during the demos that are now in their fifth week.
“All breaches and violations by police officers must be handled expeditiously through due process, with a view to giving Kenyans a police service that upholds the highest standards of integrity,” the President said.
The government will take measures to support Kenyans whose property was destroyed during the demos.
“I direct relevant ministries to obtain, verify and provide accurate data to facilitate appropriate government action within 30 days,” Ruto said.