[VIDEO] Senator Sifuna Makes Deep Explanation Over Conflict Of Interest Bill

[VIDEO] Senator Sifuna Makes Deep Explanation Over Conflict Of Interest Bill

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has criticized the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for sensationalizing the debate over the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2024.

The proposed law, which will be administered by the EACC, aims to reduce the risk of corruption, favouritism, and bias in the public service by ensuring that no public or state officers are involved in matters of conflict of interest.

In an interview with Spice FM on Wednesday, Sifuna dismissed the corruption watchdog’s claim that senators removed clauses from the Bill that would impede the anti-graft campaign.

SIFUNA: EACC is over-sensationalizing Senate Amendments on Conflict of Interest Bill. #TheSituationRoom x .@edwinsifuna pic.twitter.com/4opaNztE1F

— SpiceFM (@SpiceFMKE) July 10, 2024

Instead, Sifuna explained that conflict of interest in public service is addressed by several acts in the Constitution, which he deemed redundant.

According to the senator, the amendments are intended to consolidate the laws into a single law by removing some clauses to avoid ambiguity and repetition, while not exempting anyone from legal scrutiny or prosecution.

“When you come up with a law specifically to deal with conflict of interest, you will see references to deletion of clauses in other laws,” Sifuna said.

Among the laws proposed for repeal is Section 42 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, which governs the prosecution of public officials involved in conflicts of interest, such as trading with the government.

“EACC claims that because of these Senate amendments, the war on graft is lost… if anything we do not need the bill. The problem with Kenya is not the absence of laws. Even with existing laws, what EACC should be telling us is where we need to tighten to better implement these things,” added Sifuna.

He argued that this section is ambiguous because it does not explicitly define an agent and a principal. Sifuna stated that the proposed law aims to clarify who is liable and for what.

The senator cited Section 11 of the Public Officers Act, which forbids public officials from using their positions for personal gain.

While Section 46 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act states that using one’s office to improperly benefit oneself or others is illegal.

“We have invited EACC to the Senate for a conversation to convince us of the need for all these duplicitous laws to exist,” said Sifuna.

Senators voted on May 16 to amend the Conflict of Interest Bill, 2023, which is seen as a weakening of the Constitution’s stringent anti-graft provisions.

Sifuna received criticism for voting in favor of the bill.

[VIDEO] Senator Sifuna Makes Deep Explanation Over Conflict Of Interest Bill