The High Court has temporarily halted the operation of President William Ruto’s newly unveiled Multi-Agency Team on War Against Corruption following a petition challenging its legality.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye, in conservatory orders issued on August 20, 2025, directed that the proclamation establishing the team be suspended pending full hearing of the case.
“Pending the hearing inter parties and determination of the petitioners/applicants’ notice of motion application dated 20/08/25, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued staying the operation and implementation of, or the further operation and/or further implementation of, the Presidential proclamation on the establishment of multi-agency team on war against corruption’ issued under the hand and seal of the President of the Republic on 18/08/2025,” Justice Mwamuye ruled.
The matter will be mentioned on September 9, 2025, to confirm compliance
Four petitioners have moved to the High Court challenging the establishment of the Presidential Multi-Agency Team on War Against Corruption (MAT-WAC), a body recently unveiled to spearhead Kenya’s renewed fight against graft.
The team was announced on August 18, 2025, through an executive proclamation that sought to bring together key state institutions to coordinate the war on corruption, economic crimes, and illicit financial flows.
In their petition, Magare Gikenyi, Eliud Karanja Matindi, Philemon Abuga Nyakundi, and Dishon Keroti Mogire argue that the creation of the new body is unconstitutional.
They contend that Kenya’s Constitution already establishes the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) under Article 79 as the independent agency mandated to handle corruption-related matters, and therefore, the formation of another team duplicates existing roles.
According to them, any anti-graft coordination should be rooted in the law and overseen by institutions already provided for in the constitutional and statutory framework.
The petitioners further claim that including institutions such as the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in MAT-WAC undermines their independence.
“That pending the hearing and determination of this application
and petition, the Honourable Court be pleased to issue an interim order directing the Respondents, or any person acting on their behalf, from taking
any action, implementing, or relying on the Presidential Multi-Agency Team on
War Against Corruption established through the executive proclamation of August 18, 2025, including any related documents, reports, recommendations, or
subsequent actions," the petition states.
They point to Article 231(3) of the Constitution, which prohibits external control over the CBK, and Article 157(10), which protects the independence of the ODPP.
In their view, the new arrangement risks blurring institutional boundaries and weakening the principle of separation of powers.
Funding is another area of concern raised in the case.
The proclamation establishing MAT-WAC provided that its operations would be financed from budgetary allocations of participating institutions and unspecified “other sources.”
The petitioners argue that this opens questions about transparency, accountability, and parliamentary oversight on public finance, since only the National Assembly and Senate are constitutionally empowered to allocate and appropriate funds.
They add that details on the remuneration and allowances for members of the team have not been made public, further raising governance issues.
The four petitioners also warn that the team’s objectives overlap with those already assigned to existing institutions such as the EACC, the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), and the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC).
In their view, this amounts to a duplication of duties that could result in wastage of scarce public resources.
The petitioners are now seeking conservatory orders suspending MAT-WAC’s operations, halting its funding, and stopping the implementation of any of its decisions until the matter is heard and determined.
"That pending the hearing and determination of this application and petition, the Honourable Court be pleased to issue an interim order directing the Respondents, or any person acting on their behalf, from taking any action, implementing, or relying on the Presidential Multi-Agency Team on War Against Corruption established through the executive proclamation of August 18, 2025, including any related documents, reports, recommendations, or subsequent actions," the petition states.
They maintain that the High Court has jurisdiction to intervene, given that the issues raised touch on constitutional interpretation, public finance, and protection of independent offices.
President William Ruto established an eleven-member multi-agency task force to spearhead his war on corruption.
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.
