President William Ruto has formally established a powerful Multi-Agency Team (MAT) on war against corruption (MAT), a few days after he issued a strong warning to corrupt individuals in government.
The new team will spearhead the country’s anti-graft campaign, reinforcing his administration’s “whole-of-government” approach to ending economic crimes.
In a presidential proclamation issued under Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, Ruto stated that the initiative seeks to enhance cooperation, synergy, and coordination among key state institutions charged with combating corruption, money laundering, and related crimes.
The new team draws membership from the Executive Office of the President, and the Office of the Attorney General, National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) are also involved.
Others are Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
Other institutions, he said, may be co-opted as need arises.
“The MAT is mandated to create synergy and inter-agency cooperation in the fight against corruption, economic crimes, and related offenses,” Ruto said in the proclamation.
He noted that the initiative is anchored on constitutional obligations to safeguard public resources.
The establishment of the MAT follows recommendations of the 2015 Taskforce on the Review of the Anti-Corruption Legal, Policy and Institutional Framework.
It also comes at a time when the enactment of the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025 and amendments to the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act have strengthened Kenya’s anti-corruption legal regime.
Among its key objectives, the MAT will enhance collaboration among agencies, engage other arms of government and the private sector, mobilise resources for the anti-graft campaign, share best practices, and develop effective communication strategies to raise public awareness.
It will also seek cooperation with international partners in tracking and recovering stolen assets.
Funding for the team, Ruto said, will be drawn from the budgets of its member institutions, with provisions for additional support where necessary.
The Executive Office of the President will chair the MAT, while the Office of the Attorney General will serve as the secretariat, ensuring policy and legal direction in the implementation of its mandate.
President Ruto emphasiSed that the fight against corruption remains a collective duty under the Constitution and urged all agencies and citizens to support the multi-agency drive.
The latest
move by the President Ruto signals commitment by his administration to ending
corruption.
When he
delivered the State of The Nation Address on November 21, 2024, the Head of
State said going forward confront the dragon head-on.
"Of the
many difficult assignments I have undertaken, this fight against corruption is
one I now take on with resolve going forward,'' he announced.
The
President warned government officials that he had launched a ruthless crackdown
against corrupt elements both in his administration and outside to save the
country from going down the drain.
"Let
this serve as notice to all. Independent institutions charged with this
responsibility must up their game, pull up their socks and match up to the
expectations of the people of Kenya,'' Ruto said.
While
speaking at the official opening of the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay last
Wednesday, Ruto restated his zero-tolerance position on corruption, vowing not
to shield any government official accused of graft.
He warned
that no one will be spared if found culpable.
“I have made
it clear to the chair of the Anti-Corruption Commission and to the CEO that
there will be no sacred cows and there will be no telephone call from anywhere
below or above to stop anybody from being prosecuted for matters of
corruption,” he said.
Ruto urged
accountability agencies to act “as efficiently and as effectively, with
accountability, as the law and the Constitution mandate them,” without
political interference.
The President
also expressed concern over reports alleging that some parliamentary committees
may seek inducements from Executive officials they summon over accountability
matters.
“It’s not
possible that committees of Parliament demand payment for them to write reports
or to overlook issues in either the national or county governments,” he said.
During the
joint parliamentary group meeting with ODM and UDA legislators Monday, the
President also accused a section of MPs of allegedly receiving bribes to vote
against the recently enacted anti-money laundering law.
He claimed
that some MPs were compromised with millions of shillings to frustrate critical
laws.
“Do you, for
example, know that a few members of your committee collected Sh10 million
shillings so that you don’t pass that law on anti-money laundering? Did you get
the money?” he asked.
Ruto also
raised questions on how some county officials access large sums of cash.
“Where does
somebody find Sh150 million? Is that his money? That is money that belongs to
the county,” he noted.
He warned
that corruption was eroding the credibility of Parliament and undermining
public trust.
