President William Ruto’s bold push to fast-track a powerful anti-corruption law has hit a major roadblock — and it’s coming from within Parliament itself.

Senators have thrown a wrench into the President’s plans by voting to extend debate on his concerns over the controversial Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023. What was expected to be a swift process now faces a staggering 45-day delay — over triple the time usually allocated for such reviews.

Ruto’s Anti-Graft Crusade on the BrinkAt the heart of the storm is the President’s hard-hitting memo, which flagged a dozen contentious clauses in the bill. Initially passed by the National Assembly and aimed at cracking down on corruption in public procurement, the bill has now morphed into a political tug-of-war.

Senate Justice and Legal Affairs Committee Chair, Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei, made the explosive revelation that they simply couldn’t meet the 14-day deadline to review the President’s objections.

“We’ve not been able to conclude within the time the Standing Orders provide,” Sigei announced in a motion that effectively stalled the President’s anti-corruption agenda.

Powerful Clauses Gutted in Senate Backroom Deals The original bill, a flagship in Ruto’s reform agenda, sought to bar public officials from doing business with the government and to force them into regular declarations of wealth — including after they leave office.

But when the Senate got its hands on the bill, several of those hard-hitting clauses were shockingly stripped away. Among the most controversial deletions were:Clause 19, which barred public officers from securing government tenders.

Clause 20, which blocked them from holding interests in companies involved in state contracts.Requirements for routine declarations of income, assets, and liabilities — gone.

Despite these sweeping alterations, the National Assembly passed the watered-down version and sent it to the President. But Ruto wasn’t having it. He sent the bill back on April 30, citing concerns that key safeguards had been neutered.

Battlelines Drawn as Deadline Shifts to July with the new timeline pushing deliberations to as late as July 8, the political temperature is rising. The delay now puts the spotlight on whether Parliament is truly committed to fighting graft — or merely playing politics with Kenya’s future.

Nominated Senator Raphael Chimera backed the delay, arguing the committee needed more time to deliver a “better version” of the bill. But critics warn that every extra day could give corrupt cartels more room to maneuver.

Cabinet Warned: This Bill Could Be a Game-Changer Before all this drama, the Cabinet had praised the original bill as a “new dawn in the management of public affairs”.

It was hailed as a tough, uncompromising law that would draw a clear line between public duty and private interest.

Now, with Parliament divided and delays piling up, Kenyans are left wondering: Is the war on corruption real — or just another political mirage?