President William Ruto has been dealt a blow after the High Court temporarily suspended the formation of taskforce he established to deal with corruption.
Justice Bahati Mwamuye on Wednesday blocked the implementation of taskforce formed by President William Ruto to fight corruption until a petition filed is heard and determined.
“Pending the hearing inter parties and determination of the petitioners/applicants’ notice of motion application dated 20/08/25, a conservatory order be and is hereby issued staying the operation and implementation of, or the further operation and/or further implementation of, the Presidential proclamation on the establishment of multi-agency team on war against corruption’ issued under the hand and seal of the President of the Republic on 18/08/2025,” ruled Justice Mwamuye.
The orders followed a petition by Dr Magare Gikenyi, Eliud Karanja Matindi, Philemon Abuga Nyakundi, and Dishon Keroti Mogire, who argue that the move is unconstitutional.
They contend that President Ruto’s decision duplicates existing institutions and is therefore invalid. The petitioners claim that the presidential proclamation of August 18, 2025, which created the task force, violates several provisions of the 2010 Constitution.
“The President lacks a constitutional mandate to establish an anti-corruption agency, a role already assigned to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) by Article 79,” the court papers read.
The petitioners described the powers exercised by the Head of State as “imaginary, hot-air mirage powers”, arguing that the Constitution expressly limits executive authority in matters reserved for independent commissions.
They sought conservatory orders to suspend the task force, halt its operations, and prevent it from compiling or implementing any reports. They argue that failure to do so would breach the Constitution, erode public trust, and amount to an abuse of taxpayer funds.
The petitioners further challenge the inclusion of institutions such as the Central Bank of Kenya, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the National Intelligence Service, and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations in MAT-WAC, saying it undermines their constitutional independence and risks politicising their functions.
They also warn that the team’s funding model, drawing from existing budgetary allocations and unspecified “other sources”, lacks transparency and opens the door to misuse of public resources.
The development comes after the Head of State formed an 11-member multi-agency task force to tackle war on corruption.
Through a Presidential Proclamation, the high-level task force is aimed at unifying government efforts to combat graft, economic crimes, and financial misconduct.
The multi-agency team established under the State Department for Justice, includes representatives from key agencies such as the Executive Office of the President (Chair), Office of the Attorney General (Secretary), National Intelligence Service (NIS), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
The President noted that the establishment of MAT builds on recommendations made by the 2015 taskforce on Anti-Corruption reforms and follows recent legislative advancements, including the Conflict-of-Interest Act, 2025, and amendments to the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, which have strengthened Kenya’s legal framework against graft.
