Inside Fight Between National Assembly and Senate
Parliament has firmly dismissed the Senate’s proposed changes to the Conflict of Interest Bill, paving the way for mediation to address major discrepancies between the two chambers.
Initially passed by the National Assembly, the Conflict of Interest Bill aimed to replace the Public Officer Ethics Act of 2003 and create a comprehensive system for managing conflicts of interest under the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The Senate, however, significantly modified the Bill’s original intent, causing friction between the legislative bodies.
Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah led the effort to reject the Senate’s amendments, stating they fundamentally compromised the Bill’s objectives.
“The nature of the Senate’s amendments prompted my motion to expedite its referral to mediation,” Ichung’wah said. “The Senate’s changes necessitate mediation to resolve the stark differences between the houses.”
Ichung’wah voiced serious concerns over the Senate’s removal of key provisions, including those concerning the EACC’s role and the ban on public officers and their relatives doing business with government entities.
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“The Senate proposed repealing the Public Officer Ethics Act,” Ichung’wah noted. “This included removing clauses about the commission’s functions and the participation of members in legislative proceedings, severely weakening the Bill and enabling corruption and conflicts of interest.”
Supporting Ichung’wah, Funyula MP Wilberforce Ojiambo stressed the need for strong anti-corruption measures.
“When we enacted the new Constitution under chapter 6, we recognized that absolute power corrupts, hence the inclusion of chapter 6 on integrity and leadership,” Ojiambo said. “If we dilute the Bill to make it difficult to hold leaders accountable, we’re leading the country to ruin. The Senate’s amendments were a disservice to the nation.”
Gilgil MP Martha Wangari also opposed the Senate’s changes, citing their detrimental effect on the fight against corruption.
“The Senate’s amendments set us back in the battle against corruption,” Wangari stated. “The issues raised by Kenyans, Gen Z, and civil society could be addressed if we tackled corruption. We should reject anything that undermines this fight and support the Bill as originally passed.”
The National Assembly’s rejection of the Senate’s amendments means the Bill will move to a mediation committee, where representatives from both houses will work to reconcile their differences.
Inside Fight Between National Assembly and Senate
