NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya is set to strengthen its anti-corruption legal arsenal with a new law requiring all public and private institutions to establish secure systems for whistleblowers to report misconduct without fear of retaliation.
The Whistleblower Protection Bill, 2025, currently under review by the Office of the Attorney General, proposes a comprehensive framework for safeguarding individuals who expose corruption, abuse of office, and other forms of wrongdoing.
The proposed legislation mandates government entities and private organisations to create formal, confidential reporting procedures tailored to their size and operations.
These systems must allow disclosures from both employees and third parties.
“It provides the manner of making a public interest disclosure, including anonymous disclosures, and identifies the persons responsible for receiving the disclosures,” reads the Bill’s memorandum.
Rewards, Anonymity, and Legal Protection
Whistleblowers will be eligible for recognition and incentives, including financial rewards where applicable.
For instance, if a tip-off leads to the recovery of stolen public funds, the informant may receive a reward based on the amount recovered, as determined by the relevant authority.
The Bill also offers robust legal protection, including:
- Immunity from liability for disclosures made in good faith
- Anonymity provisions to protect identities
- Strict penalties for retaliation, such as dismissal, demotion or threats
Anyone found retaliating against a whistleblower could face a fine of up to Ksh.5 million, a 10-year prison term, or both.
Accountability for All
The law will be enforced by the Commission on Administrative Justice, in collaboration with other oversight bodies. It also introduces steep fines and jail terms for those who:
- Obstruct investigations or mislead the commission (up to Ksh.1 million or 1-year jail)
- Submit false disclosures knowingly
- Ignore known or suspected cases of misconduct without taking action
The Bill defines misconduct to include corruption, bribery, human rights violations, resource mismanagement, discrimination, and unethical solicitation, among others.
Closing Legal Gaps
The proposed legislation seeks to expand and enhance protections under existing laws, including the current Whistleblower Protection Act, which has faced criticism for weak enforcement and lack of safeguards.
Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, who is spearheading the reforms, emphasized that this Bill is part of a broader strategy to improve transparency, accountability, and public confidence in governance.
“Tackling corruption swiftly is necessary for stabilising Kenya’s economy and improving governance,” Oduor said recently while introducing complementary reforms such as the Anti-Corruption Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
