Photo:The amended legislation introduces fresh measures on punishment for economic crimes and formalises the establishment of the Assets Recovery Agency.
President Kenyatta said the amended law was a major tool to fight corruption. He said it meant that no proceeds of theft and corruption are beyond the reach of the State.
The amended legislations add measures on punishment for economic crimes.
The new law imposes stiff penalty on culprits,in addition to the identification, tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of crime.
It recommends that a person who fails to comply with it will be liable to a monetary penalty not exceeding Sh5 million while the penalty for a corporate body will not exceed Sh25 million.
The amended law adds that in the case of continued failure, the person or reporting institution shall be liable to an additional monetary penalty of Sh10 million.
The new legislation also formalises the establishment of the Assets Recovery Agency, which will handle all cases of recovery of the proceeds of crime or benefits accruing from money laundering.
President Kenyatta also signed into law the Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2017.
The Supplementary Appropriation Act authorizes the release of Sh46.2 billion from the Consolidated Fund for use by the government to fulfil its financial obligations for the remaining part of the financial year which ends on June 30.
The process of the signing by President Kenyatta at State House was witnessed by Deputy President William Ruto, National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, House Majority Leader Aden Duale and Solicitor General Njee Muturi .
