NAIROBI, Kenya — Individuals nominated for top state and public offices may soon face tougher scrutiny of their wealth, with severe penalties for false declarations, if Parliament passes a new bill before the House.
The Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) (Amendment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo, proposes fines of up to Sh5 million, a jail term of five years, or both for nominees who submit misleading or incomplete information about their assets, income, or liabilities during the vetting process.
Currently, nominees often provide approximate figures with little verification, a loophole Oundo says fuels corruption.
“People keep on lying during vetting. They overstate their wealth to leave room for stealing. All we need are verifiable documents of all the wealth they own, including assets and liabilities,” he told reporters.
Under the proposed law, nominees must submit detailed statements of income, assets, and debts backed by certified documents.
These include an accountant’s certificate under the Accountants Act and a valuation report from a registered valuer under the Valuers Act. Professionals who knowingly certify false information will also face prosecution.
The Bill also expands the scope of disclosures, requiring nominees to declare deferred income, pending contracts, anticipated earnings, and all income earned in the current and previous year.
Assets ranging from land, homes, vehicles, jewellery, and precious metals to financial holdings like shares, bonds, and bank deposits must be listed alongside liabilities such as loans, mortgages, and unpaid taxes.
The Clerk of the National Assembly currently coordinates the vetting process by seeking reports from agencies including the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
These reports cover tax compliance, integrity, criminal history, and political affiliations.
This marks the second major attempt by Parliament to tighten vetting rules. The 12th Parliament had previously extended the approval period from 14 to 28 days but shelved proposals to enforce higher academic thresholds for Cabinet nominees or allow investigative agencies to question them directly.
If adopted, the Oundo-sponsored Bill would close long-standing gaps in the process by anchoring verifiable documentation into law, making it harder for nominees to rely on unverifiable wealth declarations to secure parliamentary approval.
