President William Ruto./PCS
President William Ruto has established an eleven-member multi-agency task force to spearhead his war on corruption.
Just a day after he threatened to arrest Members of Parliament (MPs) who have allegedly been extorting, Ruto said the ad-hoc Multi-Agency Team (MAT) will be domiciled under the State Department of Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs.
An official from his office will chair the team, while the Attorney General’s office will provide secretariat services.
Other representatives include the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and Financial Reporting Centre (FRC).
Asset Recovery Authority (ARA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) complete the list of eleven.
“The objectives of the MAT shall be among others, engaging other relevant agencies, organs of government and private sector to enhance the effectiveness of the anti-graft campaign,” the Presidential Proclamation reads in part.
The MAT has also been mandated to engage both domestic and international relevant agencies for effectiveness and optimum realisation of the fight against economic crimes, organized crimes and recovery of proceeds of crime.
The President signed the document dated 18th August 2025 before he jetted off to Japan for the TICAD 9 meeting.
On the same day he issued the proclamation, the head of state and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga issued a scathing attack on the legislature with the President vowing to crack down on errant MPs.
Ruto told a gathering of MPs drawn from his UDA party and Raila’s ODM party, that he was aware from intelligence reports how they have been allegedly demanding bribes from public officials appearing before them.
He cited a case in which a leader allegedly spent Sh150 million to compromise Senators recently and a member of a departmental committee of the National Assembly who picked Sh10 million to influence certain amendments to the anti-money laundering law.
“Instead of shaming this person, we will arrest them,” the President declared prompting MPs to decline a lunch invite during the joint PG held at Karen.
On Tuesday, Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang’, who chairs the County Public Investments and Accounts Committee (CPIAC) defended the house from the claims.
He asked the two speakers of parliament to exercise their powers to summon the President to appear before the Privileges Committee and provide the evidence of the bribery.
“The house has powers to summon any person including the President as a witness. I am urging the two Speakers who chair the respective Privilege Committees to summon the President to come and provide the evidence he has against members of either house,” Kajwang’ said.
