A fresh legislative crackdown is set to significantly alter the landscape of political conduct in Kenya, imposing stringent penalties, including up to two years in prison, for what have long been considered routine practices by elected leaders. The Kenya Roads (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which has passed through the National Assembly and is now before the Senate, specifically targets the widespread culture of politicians branding taxpayer-funded projects with their personal images and names.

Sponsored by Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament Peter Kaluma, the bill introduces an offence for any individual who erects or authorizes signage bearing their name, image, or likeness on any public road. If enacted, offenders will face a fine not exceeding KSh1 million, a prison term of up to two years, or both. This move is a direct challenge to the common practice by Governors, MPs, and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) of using public works for personal political mileage, a tactic that often blurs the line between state-funded development and personal campaign efforts.

A Broader Push for Accountability

This amendment is part of a wider and more aggressive push to enforce integrity and accountability among public officials, a theme that has gained momentum with the recent passage of the landmark Conflict of Interest Act, 2025. Signed into law by President William Ruto on July 30, 2025, the Act replaced the weaker Public Officer Ethics Act of 2003. It grants the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) sweeping new powers to enforce Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity.

Under the Conflict of Interest Act, the EACC can now initiate asset forfeiture proceedings against public officers with unexplained wealth, investigate conflicts of interest within a 90-day deadline, and enforce a stricter wealth declaration regime. All public officers, including the Chief Justice, Cabinet Secretaries, and MCAs, are now required to submit biennial declarations of income, assets, and liabilities for themselves, their spouses, and dependents.

Key prohibitions under this law include public officials awarding contracts to themselves or family members, engaging in side jobs that conflict with official duties, and being influenced by offers of outside employment. These measures are designed to dismantle the architecture of patronage and self-enrichment that has long plagued Kenya's public service.

Implications for the 2027 General Election

The timing of these new laws is critical, coming just under two years before the highly anticipated 2027 General Election. The stringent penalties and broadened scope of punishable offenses are expected to have a chilling effect on how political campaigns are conducted. For decades, the use of state resources and the branding of public projects have been integral, albeit illegal, components of incumbency advantage.

Political analysts suggest that by criminalizing these 'everyday offenses,' the new legal framework could lead to a wave of disqualifications and prosecutions of political aspirants. The Elections Offences Act already prescribes severe penalties, including fines up to KSh2 million and imprisonment for up to six years, for offenses like bribery and the unlawful use of public resources during campaigns. Recent amendments to this Act, stemming from recommendations by the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), have further tightened the screws on electoral misconduct, imposing fines of up to KSh2 million or five years in prison for IEBC officials who unreasonably delay or alter election results.

Civil society organizations, such as Transparency International–Kenya, have lauded the legislative changes as a significant step forward but caution that enforcement remains the ultimate test. Historically, the EACC has faced challenges in securing convictions against high-profile political figures, often due to legal loopholes that allowed convicted individuals to run for office while their appeals were pending. The new laws, particularly the Conflict of Interest Act, aim to close these gaps by giving the EACC a clearer and more powerful enforcement mandate.

As Kenya heads towards 2027, the effectiveness of these new integrity laws will be under intense scrutiny. Their success or failure in curbing corruption and leveling the political playing field will be a defining factor in the credibility and fairness of the upcoming elections.