There is growing tension between Kenya’s Parliament and President William Ruto’s administration after Members of Parliament decided to halt all committee activities in fierce protest.
This came just days after President Ruto publicly claimed that some MPs usually ask for bribes to pass critical bills.
On Monday, August 18, President Ruto alleged that certain lawmakers demanded a hefty Ksh 10 million bribe in order to approve the government-sponsored Anti-Money Laundering Bill.
He also claimed that a county governor paid a whopping Ksh 150 million to bribe senators so they could influence their investigations and outcomes.
These serious statements angered MPs across the political divide. In retaliation, MPs abandoned Parliament chambers, leaving them nearly empty, and went ahead to shut down committee rooms. This decision affected the normal Parliamentary routine.
On Tuesday, none of the scheduled National Assembly committee meetings took place. Only Senate committees met with the public and stakeholders — and even those meetings were held in a climate of protest.
The last active National Assembly committee session was held on August 15, when the Select Committee on NG-CDF questioned Fund Account Managers (FAMs) and Constituency Office Managers (COMs) from the Northeastern region.
It’s important to note that the National Assembly runs different types of committees such as housekeeping, departmental, investigative, and sessional committees.
These committees are important because they help in vetting key public officers, handling legislation, conducting investigations, checking government spending (oversight), and engaging with Kenyans on national issues. With MPs now on a go-slow, all these crucial functions have come to a standstill.
When MPs appeared in Parliament on Tuesday, August 19, they stood united — regardless of their political parties — and sharply criticised President Ruto. They accused him of damaging the reputation of Parliament and portraying all MPs as corrupt.
Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto passionately addressed the issue, saying:
“Whenever there are allegations that someone received a bribe, especially these huge figures being mentioned, it puts our lives in danger.
As we walk on the streets, people look at us as if we all have Ksh 10 million or Ksh 150 million with us, or as if we are enemies of the people. Mr Speaker, please defend the honour and integrity of this House.”
The standoff deepened after President Ruto created an 11-member special Multi-Agency Team (MAT), placed under the State Department of Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs. This team was formed to lead his latest anti-corruption drive.
He even threatened to arrest any MPs and senators who have allegedly been soliciting bribes from government institutions or businesses to influence laws and parliamentary decisions.
Meanwhile, Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang’ has strongly urged both the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, and the Senate Speaker, Amason Kingi, to summon President Ruto to appear before both Houses.
He says the President should be asked to personally explain the claims he made and provide real evidence to support those accusations.
In summary, the row between the executive and the legislature has now reached a boiling point. Parliament’s refusal to carry out its duties is a powerful signal of protest, and many Kenyans are watching closely to see if the President will prove his claims or if this standoff will further strain the relationship between the government branches.
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