President William Ruto has officially established a Multi-Agency Team (MAT) to intensify the fight against corruption, coming days after he issued a strong warning to individuals engaged in corrupt practices within government.

The new team is expected to spearhead the administration’s “whole-of-government” approach to tackling economic crimes and safeguarding public resources.

In a presidential proclamation under Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, Ruto said the initiative aims to enhance cooperation, synergy, and coordination among state institutions charged with combating corruption, money laundering, and related offenses.

The MAT comprises members from the Executive Office of the President, the Office of the Attorney General, National Intelligence Service (NIS), and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Other key agencies include the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA). Additional institutions may be co-opted as needed.

“The MAT is mandated to create synergy and inter-agency cooperation in the fight against corruption, economic crimes, and related offenses,” Ruto said in the proclamation.

He noted that the initiative is anchored on constitutional obligations to protect public resources.

The creation of MAT follows recommendations from the 2015 Taskforce on the Review of the Anti-Corruption Legal, Policy and Institutional Framework.

It also coincides with recent legal reforms, including the enactment of the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, and amendments to the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, which have strengthened Kenya’s anti-corruption regime.

Among its objectives, the MAT will foster collaboration among agencies, engage other arms of government and the private sector, mobilize resources for anti-graft campaigns, share best practices, and develop communication strategies to raise public awareness.

It will also cooperate with international partners to track and recover stolen assets.

Funding for the team will come from the budgets of its member institutions, with additional support provided where necessary.

The Executive Office of the President will chair the MAT, while the Office of the Attorney General will serve as the secretariat, guiding policy and legal direction in the execution of its mandate.

President Ruto emphasized that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility under the Constitution, urging all agencies and citizens to support the multi-agency drive.