Will Ruto walk the talk and arrest MPs collecting bribes?

President William Ruto has once again turned guns on Parliament, accusing it of allowing corruption to thrive, at a time several MPs have complained about lethargic leadership that is failing to lead the House in discharging its constitutional mandate as the electorate’s watchdog.

The matter now brings to question the record of the Speakers of Parliament Moses Wetang’ula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi (Senate) who have been accused of bias. 

According to the law, a speaker oversees the orderly flow of business and further ensures that the House observes parliamentary rules and traditions, both written and unwritten. The speaker must interpret the rules impartially to maintain order and to defend the rights and privileges of members.

However, from calling it out for allowing extortion to flourish in parliamentary committees to unending corruption and other sleaze practices, the President said Parliament should put an end to all corrupt practices. He did not spell out how this is going to be done nor mention who bares ultimate responsibility for ensuring order among elected members.  

Ruto acknowledged that there is a problem in both the National Assembly and Senate, which he said must be sorted out, in addition to now cautioning that those implicated in extortion will be brought to book.

‘Soko huru’

For the National Assembly, Ruto yet again spoke of ‘welfare chairpersons in committees’, who have been using unconventional means to obtain money while at the Senate, he referred it to as ‘soko huru’, where governors appear to respond to queries and have to part with some monies.

Ruto also accused some MPs of collecting money on behalf of Parliament, a move that is tainting the image of the institution that ideally, should be representing the people and legislating.

“Let me ask you MPs seated here. Do you, for example, know that a few members of your committee collected Sh10 million so that you could pass that law on anti-money laundering? Did you get the money? Yes, there are people who are destroying the credibility of Parliament,” Ruto said.

He made the remarks yesterday during the first-ever Parliamentary Group meeting that brought the two major coalitions together, Kenya Kwanza and part of Azimio, and a number of leaders including Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, in Karen, Nairobi.

“…And they are collecting money in the name of Parliament. And some of the time, or most of the time, that money never gets to Parliament. It gets to a few people. We are not going to shame them. We are going to arrest them. Do we agree?” Ruto asked the MPs in attendance.

Watchdog role

A section of MPs has accused House leadership of being biased against those not in support of government, in addition to failing to ensure there is order and MPs undertake their watchdog role without any interference.

Last week, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba criticised a move by Wetang’ula to suspend her from Parliament for 20 days over what she described as questioning ‘flimsy answers’ from Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen.

“I was jettisoned out of Parliament for 20 days for I refused to listen and accept the flimsy answers from Interior CS explaining how they cannot and are not able to arrest a murder suspect who escaped from custody for allegedly killing women and mutilating their bodies and dumping them,” Wamuchomba said. 

When Murkomen appeared before the National Assembly plenary session last Wednesday, among the issues Wamuchomba sought was a report on the total number of female bodies recovered from Kware dumpsite, including an update on how many victims have been positively identified through forensic or DNA analysis.

She also wanted Murkomen to clarify whether the investigations are still ongoing, considering that the main suspect escaped from police custody and whether his case has reportedly gone cold. 

“I have listened to what the CS had to say concerning the cases of the ladies he confirms were properly matched with their relatives and confirmed they were murdered by the suspect who disappeared. But Mr Speaker, I refuse to sit in this House and listen to CS confirm that his ministry cannot be able to capture suspects who were previously under their custody. I’m refusing to listen to the answer he is giving,” Wamuchomba said.

After which the Speaker said: “Hon Wamuchomba, it is discourtesy to the House for you to ask a question, being prosecuted and then walk out. It is total discourtesy. Wamuchomba shall serve a suspension from the House of 20 days excluding the recess days, she will not be allowed to enter precincts of Parliament or enjoy the facilities of Parliament, including restaurant, gym and the office.”

Wetang’ula told the MPs that they are ‘‘distinguished elected people’’representing those who sent them to Parliament and there is no point of filing questions for purposes of playing to the gallery and then defiantly walking away.

In yet another instance, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was among those ejected from the House over what was described as heckling Senate Speaker Amason Kingi after a heated exchange during a session.

“The Senate leadership has taken its time to take you through various inductions. I’m shocked. Can the chair be heard in silence... Senator Sifuna you are out of order. If you continue, I will throw you out of the chambers,” warned Kingi.

In response, Sifuna shouted back at the Speaker: “Throw them out first...” but he left the House after the Speaker insisted on invoking his powers.

Gloria Orwoba, a former Nominated Senator, was expelled and replaced from the Senate after she found herself in trouble with the House Committee of Powers and Privileges in 2023 over a social media post.

Orwoba was accused of publishing allegations that a senior Senate official had resorted to harassing her after she declined his sexual advances, even as she claimed that some of her colleagues were corruptly earning per diems in exchange for sexual favours and for their legislative agenda to sail through.

“Unless we sort it out, we are going to destroy our nation. And we must be as candid to ourselves here as we are candid in implementing what is transformational for Kenya,” Ruto insisted.

He insisted on the need for candid conversations, noting that there are also legitimate concerns on how resources are being spent at the counties.

“We cannot also run away. There is legitimate concern. Let me ask, for example, the latest Soko Huru in the Senate… you know, by virtue of the position I hold today, I am a consumer of raw intelligence. I know what is going on. Where does somebody find Sh150 million? Where? Is that his money? That is money that belongs to the county, is that correct or not correct?” Ruto posed.

He also said there is need to distinguish between governors and devolution, insisting that people at the grassroots level must get development as practically as possible.

“The governor is not devolution. The governor is a person. Devolution is about the people. It is not about the governor. And we can deal with the governor without disrupting devolution, if there is need to. But what is sacrosanct, what is constitutional, is that we must get local people development, to the local level as much as is practically possible,” Ruto told the MPs.

He also made reference to Raila’s remarks on the National Government Constituency Development Fund, saying he was in Parliament when it was passed and the principle was right because there was no meaningful resources getting to the grassroots.

“Now, let me say this. We must make sure that we get resources to the grassroots. But we also must make sure that the resources that get to the grassroots is used for the people. Not otherwise,” Ruto said.

Ruto said that leaders have a nation to protect, lauding Raila’s courage to demand a stop to extortion. 

Extortion

“Very few leaders can stand here and tell you to stop the extortion that is going on in Parliament. Very few leaders, because we like making peace with mediocrity. Trying to explain things that we shouldn’t be explaining.  Now let me ask you friends, this fellow who is called chairman of welfare in committees, what is their job? Extortion, that’s it. And that is what the Prime Minister is saying. You know what is Soko Huru? 

“We have what it takes to measure up to the countries in the first world. Yes, we do. But we are playing in the wrong league because leadership, me and you, are refusing to stand up to what this country needs,” Ruto said.

On his part, Raila said that leaders are supposed to scan the horizon, spot the danger and act to salvage that danger, adding that the work of Parliament is representation, legislation, and oversight, clearly written in the constitution.

“Parliament is not supposed to be implementing. Parliament is supposed to be oversighting.’’

Secondly, there is only two levels of devolution, National and county, Constituency is not an element of devolution,” he said

 And insisted: “This is not about William Ruto. I am here today; I will not be there tomorrow. This is not about Raila Odinga. It’s about the country called Kenya, where today we have the privilege to be the leaders, to be the decision makers, to decide which way Kenya. It is us who are seated here.”

For the nation to progress, Ruto said its destiny is decided by leaders, adding that they have a role in ensuring it will be a progressive nation or a failed state, a situation to be determined by leaders.

On his part, Raila said that leaders are supposed to scan the horizon, spot the danger and act to salvage that danger, adding that the work of Parliament is representation, legislation, and oversight, clearly written in the constitution.

“Parliament is not supposed to be implementing. Parliament is supposed to be oversighting. Secondly, there is only two levels of devolution, National and county, Constituency is not an element of devolution,” he said.

“A very famous English politician said, that I may not agree with what you have to say, but I shall defend unto death your right to say it. So listen to me. Let me say it and then you’ll have a chance to come and respond. I know that sometimes the truth is very bitter,” he said as he narrated the circumstances that led to CDF.

He said MPs should not be involved in development because they are supposed to be over-sighting, noting that Parliament oversights the national government while over-sighting of governors is the responsibility of Members of the County Assembly, not the Senators. 

“It is not the responsibility of the Senate to do oversight. The Senate is wasting time of governors to come and answer questions about roads in the counties,” Raila said.

Similarly, Raila said lobbying and extortion are two different things, with the latter now scaring away investors.

“If a committee has a member, what do you call him? Welfare chairperson? Mps should not be soliciting funds. You know, the environment we are creating here, in this country, is very hostile to investments. Foreign investors who come to the country, bring their resources to the country to invest it here. And when they bring their resources, when they find there’s too much bureaucracy, and there’s too much extortion, they run away,” he regretted

He said there are situations where MPs invite new partners and even purporting to be cancelling projects that have been signed, which is the work of Executive, not legislature.

Raila explained: “The legislature should not be competing with the Executive in terms of implementation of projects. Allow the executive to implement, and just correct them when they go wrong. That’s how the country will develop. Create a healthy environment for implementation of projects in the country.”

Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Justin Muturi also confirmed of the extortions.

“It is true committees use such devious methods to extort those who appear before them,” he said.

At the same time, he said that Article 96(3) provides that the Senate determines the allocation of national revenue among counties and exercises the oversight over national revenue allocated to the county Governments.

“It is therefore clear that Senate has some oversight role. Raila is clearly in the wrong,” Muturi stated.