IEBC Dismisses Fake Memo on Dissolving Parliament Amid Corruption Row

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has come out strongly to dismiss a fake memo that claimed there were ongoing proceedings at the Supreme Court seeking to dissolve Parliament.

On Wednesday, the commission used its official social media pages to warn the public against sharing or believing the fabricated press release. IEBC clarified that the memo circulating online was pure misinformation and urged Kenyans to treat it as fake news.

The false notice had suggested that if the Chief Justice advised President William Ruto to dissolve Parliament, IEBC would immediately prepare to conduct fresh elections for all parliamentary seats instead of holding by-elections. According to the commission, this was a deliberate attempt to mislead citizens and stir unnecessary tension.

This clarification comes at a time when President William Ruto is locked in a heated standoff with Members of Parliament over corruption claims. In recent days, the President has accused MPs of receiving bribes in order to pass controversial legislation.

Speaking on Monday during a Joint Parliamentary Group meeting that brought together leaders from his Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the Head of State said corruption had become rampant in the parliamentary committee stages where laws are debated before being tabled in the House.

Ruto alleged that certain Senators had pocketed up to Ksh150 million to influence the outcome of a matter before the House. Although he did not reveal names, he made it clear that such practices were damaging the credibility of Parliament.

“They are collecting money in the name of Parliament, but the money never reaches the institution. It ends up in the pockets of a few individuals. We are not going to shame them in public; instead, we are going to apprehend them,” the President stated.

He went on to add: “I am a consumer of raw intelligence. For example, do you know that some members of this House received up to Ksh10 million each to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill? Did you get the money? Who got the money?” Ruto challenged the MPs in attendance.

His remarks sparked outrage among some legislators, with members of the Senate Public Accounts Committee insisting that he should be summoned to present evidence to back up his claims.

Even as the debate raged, Ruto on Tuesday announced the creation of a new unit — the Multi-Agency Team on War Against Graft (MAT).

The body was tasked with bringing together the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to jointly strengthen the fight against corruption.

However, the team faced immediate legal setbacks. On Wednesday, the High Court suspended MAT following a petition filed by Nakuru-based surgeon Dr. Magare Gikenyi and three others.

The petitioners argued that the President had acted beyond his constitutional powers in forming the new body. They sought court orders to have the committee declared unconstitutional, unlawful, and irregular.

The court’s intervention now leaves the government’s new anti-graft plan in limbo as Kenyans continue to watch closely how the corruption allegations and political battles within Parliament will unfold in the coming days.

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