The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has announced the official commencement of the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, a landmark law designed to strengthen Kenya’s fight against corruption and unethical practices in public service. The law came into force today, 19th August 2025, following presidential assent on 30th July 2025.
The new Act replaces the Public Officer Ethics Act, 2003, and introduces sweeping reforms to regulate conflicts of interest, the declaration of income, assets, and liabilities (commonly referred to as DIALs), as well as enhance transparency and accountability among state and public officers.
Key Highlights of the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025
According to EACC, the new law consolidates various provisions on conflict of interest that previously existed in scattered statutes, many of which lacked strong enforcement mechanisms. Some of the major highlights include:
- Stricter penalties for violations – Any public official who violates the law is liable to a fine not exceeding four million shillings or imprisonment for up to ten years, or both. In addition, violators must pay a mandatory fine equal to two times the amount of benefit gained or loss incurred. Corporate bodies found guilty could face penalties of up to ten million shillings.
- Management of conflict of interest – The Act establishes a structured system to regulate and monitor conflicts of interest by reporting entities, ensuring consistency in compliance.
- Regulation of income, assets, and liabilities – Public officials must now declare all sources of income, assets, and liabilities through a well-structured framework to prevent concealment and promote transparency.
- Verification and forfeiture – Undeclared or unexplained assets will be subject to verification, and in some cases, forfeiture by the state.
- Wider scope of declarations – The law expands the range of declarations required, including circumstances that may amount to real, perceived, or future conflicts of interest.
- Restrictions on trading with public entities – Public officials are now prohibited from trading with their employers or acquiring interests in any legal entity that benefits from a public contract.
Mandatory Declarations
To further enhance accountability, all state and public officers are required to declare their income, assets, and liabilities every two years. Additional declarations must be made within 30 days of joining public service and 30 days after leaving public office.
The declarations are to be submitted to responsible commissions, which will carry out mandatory verification exercises. This measure is intended to close loopholes that allowed public servants to accumulate unexplained wealth while in office.
Boosting Transparency and Accountability
The EACC emphasized that the Conflict of Interest Act is a critical milestone in Kenya’s anti-corruption journey. By setting clear penalties and procedures, the law aims to discourage public officers from engaging in corrupt dealings and unethical practices that undermine good governance.
Moreover, the Commission noted that it will continue to create public awareness about the new law, undertake capacity building, and provide oversight. It will also support reporting entities and responsible commissions in setting up robust systems for compliance and enforcement.
What This Means for Public Officers
The new law places significant responsibility on public officers, who must now familiarize themselves with its requirements to ensure full compliance. EACC warned that failure to comply could result in stiff penalties, including fines, imprisonment, or forfeiture of assets.
This development signals a renewed push by the government to tighten accountability standards and close gaps that previously allowed corruption to thrive. The Commission has urged all public servants to uphold integrity and align their conduct with the provisions of the Act.
With the commencement of the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, Kenya has taken a bold step toward entrenching integrity in public service and ensuring that public resources are managed for the benefit of all citizens.
