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President William Ruto has set up an 11-member Multi-Agency Team on War Against Corruption (MAT), bringing together state offices from security agencies and financial regulators to intensify the fight against graft, economic crimes, and related offenses.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ruto termed the move as part of his administration’s “whole-of-government” approach to improve efficiency, synergy, and effective interventions in all wings of government.
“The Government of the Republic of Kenya is steadfast in its commitment to reinforcing a whole-of-government approach in the fight against corruption. The government aims to implement collaborative strategies that ensure more efficient, synergised and impactful interventions across all arms of government,” Ruto stated.
The Executive Office of the President will chair the team, while the Office of the Attorney General will run the Secretariat.
Powerful Institutions in the Anti-Graft Frontline
The MAT brings together the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
The taskforce can also co-opt additional members from other designated agencies to broaden its reach and strengthen its objectives.
Backed by Legal and Policy Reforms
Ruto explained that the idea of establishing MAT was first mooted in 2015 by the Taskforce on the Review of the Anti-Corruption Legal, Policy, and Institutional Framework. He noted that the previous years’ such ad hoc arrangements had already achieved “a measure of success.”
The President cited the enactment into law of the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, and the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act amendments as a few of the achievements that have further intensified Kenya’s war against corruption through the creation of a robust legislative framework.
He further grounded the action in provisions of the Constitution, mentioning Articles 10, 129(2), 131(1)(b), 131(2)(a), and 201, giving authority to the President to protect the Constitution and provide for responsible use of public resources, openly and accountably.
“Now therefore, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby proclaim that: A Multi-Agency Team on War Against Corruption is hereby established with the strategic objective of creating synergy and interagency cooperation in the fight against corruption, economic crimes, and related offenses,” he declared.
Mandate and Objectives of the Team
According to Ruto, MAT’s key objectives include:
Enhancing cooperation and coordination among state agencies.
Engaging both state organs and the private sector to strengthen the anti-graft drive.
Identifying and supporting resource needs across institutions.
Sharing best practices in tackling corruption.
Developing public communication strategies to highlight progress in the war on graft.
Partnering with domestic and international allies to fight economic and organized crimes.
Recovering stolen public funds.
The President also directed the team to maximize cooperation and collaboration to achieve effective outcomes. Funding for its activities will come from budgetary allocations of its member agencies, supplemented by other sources.
The team’s formation comes just days after President Ruto declared war on corrupt legislators in Parliament, a move that signals his intent to tighten the noose around graft networks in both government and the private sector.
Source: NairobiWire.com | Read Full Story…
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