Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday signed the Conflict of Interest Bill into law to help intensify the fight against corruption in the country.

Ruto said the new law, which repeals the Public Officer Ethics Act, introduces a detailed structure to manage conflicts of interest in government to curb the abuse of power by public officers, ensuring that public resources are used for their intended purpose.

"This is a very consequential moment in Kenya. We are making it much more difficult for people to take advantage of the offices they occupy," he said in a statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, after signing the bill.

Ruto said the new law sets clear rules to ensure that public officers serve with integrity, transparency, and accountability. He pointed out that the new legislation also gives Kenyans the opportunity to hold public officers accountable in their exercise of power.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

The law empowers the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to oversee its implementation, and the anti-graft body will deal with matters relating to wealth declaration for all public officers, not only in the Executive but also in the Legislature and Judiciary.

"To the EACC, you now have levers to make sure that you protect the resources of the Republic of Kenya and hold every officer to account," Ruto said.

He said the principal objective of the law is to establish a framework for managing such conflicts in the discharge of public duties under the general supervision of the EACC.

"The new law brings conflict of interest provisions under a single law, creating a unified legal standard for public officers. It prohibits preferential treatment and external influence in contracts linked to a public officer's role," the president said.

The Conflict of Interest Act also restricts secondary employment that undermines official duties or creates a conflict of interest.