NAIROBI (AFP) — Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki Thursday vetoed a proposed law aimed at barring the national anti-graft agency from probing crimes committed before May 2003, when some of the biggest corruption scandals occurred.
Earlier this month, the parliament rejected government amendments to a law that would give the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) powers to investigate graft allegations before May 2, 2003, when the unit was set up.
In addition, the MPs also rejected an amendment that would have made it mandatory for public officials to disclose their wealth.
"The specific amendments to the bill that the president refused to assent include amendments to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003 and amendments to the Public Officer Ethics Act 2003," Kibaki's office said in a statement.
The proposed law would have blocked the agency from probing corruption scandals involving hundreds of millions of dollars (euros) which took place during the rule of former president Daniel Arap Moi, who stepped down in December 2002.
The president's refusal gives the government another chance to present the bills to parliament.
The development comes as the country prepares for year-end general elections in which Kibaki will be seeking a second and final term in office.
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