Attorney General Dorcas Oduor has proposed sweeping legal reforms aimed at fast-tracking corruption cases in Kenya, through the Anti-Corruption Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The bill, unveiled on Thursday, seeks to conclude all corruption-related trials and appeals within one year, in a move designed to restore public trust and strengthen institutional integrity.
“If the amendment goes through, then all corruption cases will have to be concluded within six months,” said Oduor. The bill sets clear deadlines: trial courts must complete hearings within six months, High Court appeals within three months, and the Court of Appeal must deliver a decision within six months.
Additionally, the legislation limits adjournments during trials, allowing them only in “compelling and exceptional circumstances.” The new rules aim to eliminate years-long delays that have plagued Kenya’s anti-graft efforts.
The bill also proposes enhanced powers for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), allowing it to access mobile money transfers, bank transactions, and call data records without requiring court orders. It introduces administrative tools such as freezing assets for up to 30 days and imposes penalties of up to Sh300,000 or imprisonment for non-cooperation with investigations.
Alongside the Anti-Corruption Bill, Oduor unveiled the Public Participation Bill, 2025, and the Whistle-Blower Protection Bill, 2025. These are designed to deepen citizen engagement in governance and fortify legal protections for those exposing corruption.
Oduor underscored the urgency of decisive action, citing ongoing economic instability fueled by graft. “In 2025, we still face economic challenges tied to corruption,” she noted. “The success of this initiative depends on education, commitment and strong monitoring mechanisms.”
Meanwhile, Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo urged for calm amid recent violent protests, calling for a truce between police and demonstrators. While lauding the proposed bills, she emphasized the need to “restore the dignity of life” and end the destruction of property and loss of lives witnessed in recent weeks.
“This carnage is unacceptable in a free and democratic society such as Kenya,” Odhiambo said.
