The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has thrown its weight behind President William Ruto’s new Multi-Agency Team on the War Against Corruption (MAT-WAC), insisting that collaboration among state bodies does not erode institutional independence.
In court documents filed by David Too, the commission’s Director of Legal Services and Asset Recovery, the EACC argued that no single institution can win the fight against graft on its own, making joint action both practical and necessary.
“Independence does not mean working in isolation. The fight against corruption requires all hands on deck,” Too stated in a replying affidavit before the High Court.
The EACC emphasized that the 11-member team — which brings together security, investigative, financial, and regulatory agencies — has the potential to fast-track prosecutions, recover stolen assets, and build stronger intelligence networks.
According to the affidavit, sharing expertise and resources will avoid duplication, strengthen oversight, and make Kenya’s anti-graft drive more effective.
The Presidential proclamation of August 18, 2025 established MAT-WAC, with membership drawn from the Executive Office of the President, the Attorney General, National Intelligence Service (NIS), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), and the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA), alongside the EACC.
But the team is already facing legal headwinds.
Petitioners led by Dr. Magare Gikenyi have challenged its constitutionality, accusing the President of overstepping his powers and dragging independent institutions into political terrain.
They argue that the inclusion of agencies such as the CBK, ODPP, and NIS undermines their autonomy and risks politicizing the anti-graft war.
The EACC, however, urged the High Court to dismiss the petition, noting that collaboration enhances efficiency rather than diminishes independence.
“The members of MAT-WAC are institutions with crucial information that could expedite investigations and recovery of corruptly acquired assets,” the affidavit read.
