President William Ruto has suffered a setback after the High Court in Nairobi temporarily suspended the implementation of his recent proclamation establishing a multi-agency team to spearhead the fight against corruption.
In an order issued on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Justice Bahati Mwamuye of the Milimani High Court granted conservatory orders halting the operationalization of the task force pending the determination of a case filed by Dr. Magare Gikenyi, J. Benjamin, Eliud Matindi, and two others.
“It is hereby ordered and directed that Pending the inter partes hearing and determination of the Petitioners/Applicants’ Notice of Motion Application dated 20/08/2025, 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 the Seal of the President of the Republic on 18/08/2025,” read the court order.
The petitioners challenged the legality of the presidential directive announced on August 18, 2025, arguing that it contravenes the Constitution.
Court Suspends Corruption Taskforce Set Up by Ruto
They argued that President Ruto’s directive of August 18, 2025, creating a multi-agency anti-corruption team, was unconstitutional. They sued the team, the Attorney General, and nine others.
The judge ordered the petitioners to serve the respondents with court papers by August 21, 2025. The respondents must reply by August 29, 2025, and the petitioners may file their rejoinders by September 5, 2025.
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The case will be mentioned virtually on September 9, 2026, to check compliance and give further directions. Justice Mwamuye warned that anyone who fails to follow the court’s orders will face penalties.
President Ruto’s taskforce has been facing criticism from some leaders since he announced it.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga dismissed Ruto’s anti-corruption campaign as insincere, alleging that the President himself orchestrated large-scale bribery in Parliament, particularly during the October 2024 impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Maraga described this as “the most diabolical bribing of MPs in Kenya’s history,” claiming Ruto lacked the moral authority to lecture Parliament on corruption while shielding his own administration.
Corruption Taskforce Faces Backlash from Kenyans
Former Senior Economic Advisor to President Ruto’s administration publicly criticized the Multi-Agency Team (MAT) on corruption.
Kuria dismissed the taskforce as unconstitutional and ineffective, arguing that its formation under the Executive Office of the President undermines the independence of existing anti-corruption bodies like the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
He described the taskforce, which includes 11 agencies and is led by the Executive with the Attorney General as secretariat, as a “knee-jerk reaction” to parliamentary criticism rather than a well-thought-out strategy.
Also Read: Ruto Forms Team to Fight Corruption After Threatening to Arrest Some MPs
President William Ruto announced the formation of the Multi-Agency Team (MAT) on War Against Corruption shortly after publicly criticizing Members of Parliament (MPs) for alleged corruption and extortion.
On August 18, 2025, during a joint parliamentary group meeting with Kenya Kwanza and ODM legislators in Karen, Nairobi, Ruto accused some MPs of taking bribes, including claims that certain MPs received millions of shillings to influence votes on the anti-money laundering law.
He reiterated these criticisms at the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay on August 13, 2025, alleging that parliamentary committees were demanding bribes from government officials.
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