MPs Pocketing Bribes to Be Exposed and Arrested, William Ruto Announces

• President William Ruto warned lawmakers that corruption within parliament will no longer be tolerated
• He revealed intelligence reports linking MPs and senators to multi-million shilling bribe scandals
• The president vowed that those involved will face arrest and prosecution, regardless of rank or party

TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

Whispers of corruption have long haunted parliament, but this time, President William Ruto says the government will no longer look away.

He has declared an uncompromising crackdown on members of parliament and senators accused of pocketing bribes to influence legislative decisions.

Ruto was speaking on Monday, August 18, during a joint Parliamentary Group meeting, bringing together the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Are MPs receiving bribes to pass bills?

The head of state lashed out at lawmakers following reports that parliamentary committees had turned into breeding grounds for bribery.

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Ruto said he receives frequent intelligence briefs indicating that some legislators have been soliciting money in exchange for favours, warning that the government will no longer rely on warnings but will move to prosecute.

“They are collecting money in the name of parliament, and sometimes that money never gets to Parliament. Instead, it ends up in the pockets of a few individuals. We are not going to shame them; we are going to arrest them,” Ruto said.

He cited the recent passage of the Anti-Money Laundering Bill as an example, claiming cheques had been used in attempts to sway its outcome.

Are lawmakers tinting the image of parliament?

According to him, some MPs allegedly pocketed up to KSh 10 million each, while one senator reportedly received as much as KSh 150 million to tilt a matter before the House. However, he withheld names.

“I am a consumer of raw intelligence. Do you, for example, know that a few members of the House here received up to KSh 10 million to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill? Do you know that? Did you get the money?” he asked lawmakers, accusing them of tainting the image of parliament.

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The president voiced deep frustration at what he described as a culture of impunity, insisting that the credibility of Parliament was at stake if the vice were left unchecked.

He stressed that the crackdown would not discriminate against any political camp or seniority.

Why did William Ruto put parliament on the spot?

This is not the first time Ruto has sounded the alarm on corruption in the House.

Last week, while addressing the 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, he criticised members of parliament for allegedly demanding bribes from government officials to influence committee reports.

Ruto urged Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and his National Assembly counterpart to act against the trend.

He warned that committee work was being turned into a money-making venture at the expense of accountability.

The president also faulted the judiciary for being lenient on corruption suspects. He said loopholes such as anticipatory bail were being misused, allowing those accused of misusing public resources to avoid prosecution.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke