Watered down Conflict of Interest Bill adopted

Kenya's National Assembly on Tuesday approved and adopted the President's reservations on the Conflict of Interest Bill that had, among other things, delayed Kenya's access to budget support financing by the World Bank. President William Ruto referred the Conflict of Interest Bill back to the House on 2 May, with a memorandum on areas he felt needed tightening, according to a report in the Kenyans. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi said the Bill was part of the requirements the World Bank had placed on Kenya for further loan and development support. This legislative requirement was part of a broader set of governance reforms that enhanced transparency and accountability within the Kenyan Government, set by the Washington-based lender. The watering down of the Bill in the National Assembly is largely the reason for the delay in the World Bank disbursing billions worth of Development Policy Operation financing in the current financial year. The World Bank had made the passage of the Conflict of Interest Bill a key condition for releasing approximately Ksh97bn ($750m) in funding. Approval and adoption of the President's recommendations signal a mission by the government that it still wants to unlock the World Bank funding, with only three weeks to go before the close of 2024/25. The Conflict of Interest Bill will now proceed to the Senate for consideration.

Full report on the Kenyans site