Former chairman of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Irungu Nyakera, has raised serious concerns about the direction Kenya is heading, warning that the country is at risk of being governed through force rather than by the rule of law.
He blames this on what he describes as a weak and compromised Parliament under President William Ruto’s leadership.
Speaking on Wednesday, April 16, Nyakera strongly criticized the continued attacks on Kenya’s judiciary, which he described as the only arm of government still standing firm and working independently.
“For Kenya to function properly, the three arms of government—Executive, Judiciary, and Parliament—must operate independently.
But with Parliament under the control of the Executive, the country is in danger of being ruled by force instead of the law,” Nyakera stated.
He added that the recent wave of public criticism aimed at the judiciary is not a coincidence. “There’s a reason we’re seeing constant pressure and activism against the judiciary.
It is the last institution resisting Executive control, and they haven’t been able to break it down,” Nyakera emphasized.
According to him, the courts have played a critical role in protecting Kenyans by stopping several illegal and harmful decisions made by the government.
“In the last year alone, courts have blocked at least 11 actions by the Executive that were either unconstitutional or harmful to the public,” he noted.
Nyakera made these remarks in response to the Daily Nation’s headline story on Wednesday, April 16, titled ‘Ruto’s String of Court Losses’.
The front-page article highlighted the number of legal setbacks suffered by the government in court.
He went on to accuse Members of Parliament (MPs) of failing to play their role as a check on the Executive.
Instead, he said, they have become mouthpieces for the government, acting more like messengers than lawmakers.
Nyakera listed several controversial issues that Parliament has remained silent on, including the suspicious Adani investment deal, the housing levy scheme, the fuel importation monopoly, the ownership of the e-Citizen platform, and the electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) partnership with a Swiss company that allegedly saw public funds transferred to foreign accounts.
“Parliament has completely abandoned its oversight role. MPs have become spokespersons for the Executive, staying quiet on questionable deals like the Adani case, the housing levy fraud, the fuel import scheme, the e-Citizen ownership drama, and the Swiss e-visa arrangement,” he claimed.
On Monday, April 14, the Daily Nation published an investigative report alleging that billions of shillings collected from foreign visitors through the ETA system were secretly transferred to Swiss bank accounts. This triggered public outrage and prompted a response from the government.
In reaction, Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura explained that the Swiss transactions were part of a test phase in the implementation of the ETA programme.
He said the government was exploring international partnerships to make the system more efficient and secure.
Nyakera, however, remained skeptical and pointed out that such explanations are not enough when public funds and transparency are at stake.
He also voiced concerns over the upcoming Finance Bill 2025, saying many Kenyans fear it will not be passed based on its benefits to the country, but rather through intimidation and financial incentives offered to MPs.
“With the Finance Bill 2025 just around the corner, Kenyans are afraid it will be pushed through not because it makes sense, but due to coercion and bribery,” he warned.
In conclusion, Nyakera stressed that for Kenya to thrive, all three arms of government must be allowed to function without interference.
He called on Parliament to wake up and take its rightful role in defending the Constitution and protecting the rights of citizens.
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