Ruto’s Cabinet Approves Bill Proposing Ksh10 Million Fine for Kenyans Obstructing Presidential Transition

The Cabinet chaired by President William Ruto has approved the Assumption of Office of President and Transition of Executive Authority Bill, 2024. 

The bill, approved during a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, December 17, proposes stringent measures to seal loopholes and ensure smoother and more unified presidential transitions in the country.

It imposes stricter penalties for both state and public officers who obstruct the transition, proposing fines of up to Ksh10 million or imprisonment of up to 10 years, or both.

It consolidates the procedures for the assumption of office and the transfer of executive authority into a single legislative framework to ease the process. 

The Bill, which is set to be tabled before Parliament for consideration, introduces a unified law covering the assumption of office by the President-elect and the transition of executive power.

Another key provision in the Bill is that it ensures that the President-elect and Deputy President-elect receive security arrangements equivalent to those of the sitting President and Deputy President.

To account for unforeseen circumstances, the Bill addresses incidents where the outgoing President cannot attend the swearing-in ceremony. 

In such cases, the bill proposes that the handover of instruments of power would be excluded without affecting the process of the swearing-in.

The proposed law also ensures continuity in government operations by allowing cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries to remain in office until new appointments are made by the incoming administration.

The Bill further provides that the transition of executive will be deemed to have been completed when the President, Deputy President, Attorney-General, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and the Secretary to the Cabinet assume office.

Other provisions outline the role of the President-elect in the nomination and appointment of members of the Assumption of Office Committee and provide for the establishment of a Transition Centre.

Among other approvals made by the cabinet include the establishment of a presidential working group to develop a comprehensive approach to addressing femicide and the construction of a Clean Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System to address transport challenges in Nairobi.