President William Ruto has launched a scathing attack on Members of Parliament, accusing them of turning parliamentary committees into breeding grounds for corruption. Speaking at the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, the Head of State alleged that certain committees have morphed into extortion rings, demanding bribes from cabinet secretaries, governors, and other officials to influence reports or turn a blind eye to irregularities.
“There is something happening in Parliament that must be called out,” Ruto declared. “It cannot continue to be business as usual. Committees of Parliament cannot demand to be paid for them to write reports or look the other way.”
The President veered off his prepared speech to directly challenge the Legislature’s conduct, warning that such practices undermine the very oversight role Parliament is mandated to uphold. He emphasized that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) must act decisively, assuring that no one regardless of political standing would be shielded from prosecution.
“I have made it clear to EACC that there will be no sacred cows. There will be no phone calls from below or above to stop anyone from being prosecuted,” he said. Ruto further urged anti-graft bodies to move swiftly, especially after he signed the Conflict of Interest Bill into law, which seeks to tighten accountability in public office.
In a swift rejoinder, Senate Speaker Amason Kingi defended the institution, instead pointing fingers at county governors. He accused them of frustrating Senate oversight efforts whenever senators visit counties to inspect the use of public funds. “We will not stop our oversight. Our work is to ensure taxpayers’ money does not go to corruption,” Kingi asserted.
President Ruto also criticized elements within the judiciary for allegedly providing reprieve to corruption suspects, saying this erodes public trust and stalls progress in the fight against graft.
Earlier in the day, the President toured several development projects in Homa Bay County, but his anti-corruption message dominated the event. He warned that unless the fight against corruption is intensified across all arms of government, the vice will continue to derail development and rob Kenyans of critical public services.
