Ruto reads riot act to MPs in fiery UDA-ODM joint meeting

The meeting, attended by President Ruto, his deputy Prof. Kithure Kindiki, and ODM leader Raila Odinga, was expected to foster unity between the two sides. Instead, it was dominated by heated exchanges over corruption allegations that have rocked both Houses of Parliament.

President Ruto, who last week in Homa Bay claimed that “corruption was ruling Parliament,” arrived armed with more details. He said intelligence reports indicate that some legislators had demanded as much as KSh150 million from governors facing impeachment.

“I am a consumer of raw intelligence every day,” President Ruto told the tense session. “In the Senate, when a governor appears for grilling or impeachment, the chambers are nicknamed soko huru—a free market where everything has its price. Where does one even get KSh150 million? Isn’t that money meant for counties?”

So far this year, three governors—Kericho’s Dr. Eric Mutai, Meru’s Kawira Mwangaza, and Isiolo’s Abdi Guyo—have faced impeachment proceedings in the Senate.

Turning to the National Assembly, the President accused some MPs of soliciting bribes to pass legislation. “You members of the National Assembly know there are those among you who demanded KSh10 million to pass the Money Laundering Bill. Did you get the money?” he challenged.

Lawmakers, however, pressed the President to name the culprits. “I will not name them. I will arrest them,” Ruto retorted, drawing a sharp reaction across the chambers.

Deputy President Kindiki backed his boss, urging MPs to support the anti-graft push. “We must join hands and do this heavy lifting together. The fight against corruption is here with us,” he said.

But MPs sought to defend Parliament against the allegations, with some arguing that lobbying is a global practice. Suna East MP Junet Mohamed said, “Lobbying is accepted worldwide. It is people from outside who come to Parliament to lobby, not MPs extorting anyone.”

ODM leader Raila Odinga dismissed that defense, insisting: “Extortion is not lobbying.”

The debate also spilled over into the management of the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), which Odinga said fuels corruption at the grassroots. But National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah dismissed those concerns, saying, “MPs are not the ones who run NG-CDF. We only oversee the projects.”