State and public officers who obstruct the transition of the assumption of the President now stand to be fined up to Sh10 million, imprisonment of up to 10 years or both.
This is after the cabinet approved the Assumption of Office of President and Transition of Executive Authority Bill, 2024.
The Cabinet said the proposed law aims to seal gaps and ensure smoother and more unified presidential transitions in Kenya.
“It consolidates the procedures for the assumption of office and the transfer of executive authority into a single legislative framework. The Bill, now headed to Parliament for consideration, introduces a unified law covering the assumption of office by the President-elect and the transition of executive power,” a cabinet dispatch read.
To account for unforeseen circumstances, the Bill addresses scenarios where the outgoing President cannot attend the swearing-in ceremony.
The Bill says that, in such cases, the handover of instruments of power will be omitted without affecting the validity of the swearing-in process.
The proposed law also ensures continuity in government operations by allowing Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries to remain in office until new appointments are made by the incoming administration.
The Bill further provides that the transition of executive authority will be deemed to have been completed when the President, Deputy President, Attorney-General, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and the Secretary to the Cabinet assume office.
Other provisions outline the role of the President-elect in the nomination and appointment of members of the Assumption of Office Committee and provide for the establishment of a Transition Centre.
The President thanked the Cabinet for their hard work and contributions during the year.
He cited the gains already made in food production, housing, labour mobility to access opportunities abroad, and tourism, among others.
“Many people thought we would concentrate on populism, but we concentrated on transformation; many thought we would concentrate on politics, but we concentrated on leadership,” he said.
“It is not about some people, but all the people of Kenya.”
Ruto chaired the last cabinet meeting for this year.