The High Court has suspended the operations of President William Ruto’s newly constituted Multi-Agency Team on War Against Corruption (MAT-WAC), citing concerns over its legality and potential duplication of existing institutions’ roles.
In conservatory orders issued on August 20, 2025, Justice Bahati Mwamuye directed that the Presidential proclamation establishing MAT-WAC be halted pending the full hearing of a petition filed by four citizens challenging the team’s constitutionality. The case will be mentioned on September 9, 2025.
The petitioners Dr. Magare Gikenyi, Eliud Karanja Matindi, Philemon Abuga Nyakundi, and Dishon Keroti Mogire argue that the creation of MAT-WAC is unconstitutional, given that Kenya’s Constitution already establishes the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) under Article 79 as the mandated agency to combat graft. They contend that creating a parallel team undermines established institutions such as the EACC, the Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), and the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC).
The petition further raises concerns about institutional independence. It points to provisions safeguarding the autonomy of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Article 157(10)) and the Central Bank of Kenya (Article 231(3)), both of which are included in MAT-WAC. According to the petitioners, this threatens the principle of separation of powers.
Funding is another contentious issue. The proclamation directed that MAT-WAC’s activities be financed through allocations from participating institutions and unspecified “other sources.” The petitioners argue that this arrangement sidesteps parliamentary oversight of public finance, raising accountability and transparency questions. They also note that details regarding remuneration and allowances for team members remain undisclosed.
President Ruto unveiled the eleven-member task force on August 18, 2025, positioning it under the State Department of Justice, Human Rights, and Constitutional Affairs. The team was to be chaired by a presidential appointee, with the Attorney General’s office providing secretariat support. Its membership includes the National Intelligence Service (NIS), EACC, ODPP, DCI, FRC, ARA, KRA, CBK, and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
The petitioners maintain that by creating overlapping mandates, MAT-WAC risks blurring institutional boundaries, wasting public resources, and weakening constitutional safeguards. The court will now determine whether the President’s anti-graft team stands on firm legal ground.
