President William Ruto on Wednesday assented to key legislative proposals, including the Conflict of Interest Bill 2023 and the Social Protection Bill 2025, ushering in a new era of government accountability and expanded social welfare coverage for vulnerable Kenyans.
The Social Protection Bill 2025, signed at a brief ceremony at State House, Nairobi, introduces a framework to provide monthly stipends to more categories of Kenyans.
While previous programs targeted the elderly, orphans, and persons with severe disabilities, the new law widens the safety net to include individuals facing extreme poverty, disasters, job loss, pandemics, and other economic shocks.
A major highlight of the Act is the establishment of a National Board for Social Protection, which will oversee registration and distribution of benefits.
Notably, registration will now be digitised, allowing Kenyans to apply online, doing away with the old system that required physical visits to Huduma Centres and government offices.
The new law repeals the Social Assistance Act, streamlining coordination and delivery of services to ensure timely, efficient, and needs-based support to beneficiaries. Its primary objective is to protect vulnerable individuals, promote dignity, and improve livelihoods.
Additionally, the Act empowers the Cabinet Secretary for Labour to establish a Social Protection Fund under the Public Finance Management Act. This fund will pool all financial resources for national assistance programs and will be partly financed by both the national and county governments.
Beyond monetary transfers, the government will now offer non-cash benefits to eligible groups. These include gifts in kind, foster care support, psychological counselling, and medical services—aiming for a more holistic approach to social protection.
County governments will be legally obligated to contribute resources to the fund and take a more active role in delivering social services, ensuring decentralisation of welfare support across all 47 counties.
Conflict of Interest Bill
Meanwhile, the Conflict of Interest Bill, which Parliament revised following recommendations by the President, has now been enacted.
The new law aims to enhance ethical conduct and prevent self-dealing among public officers.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been given a central supervisory role in enforcing the new conflict-of-interest provisions, effectively expanding its mandate and authority in overseeing integrity issues in government.
Crucially, the Act now compels a broader category of public officials - including county assembly members, county officers, and top judicial figures such as the Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice - to declare their income, assets, and liabilities, a move seen as closing long-standing accountability gaps.
Together, the two laws represent a significant step forward in both strengthening public integrity and promoting inclusive social welfare in Kenya.
