Nelson Havi Challenges Lawmakers to Impeach William Ruto: "One of Them Must Be Right"
- Nelson Havi has called on parliament to consider impeaching President William Ruto following his remarks on corruption in the House
- The former LSK president said MPs must act if they are truly offended by the president’s claims about money changing hands in Parliament
- Havi argued that either Ruto or the lawmakers is right, and Kenyans deserve clarity on where the truth lies
- Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, advocate Grace Nyambura said Havi’s impeachment call must be weighed legally, stressing Parliament must prove constitutional violation
TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Kenya’s political scene has been thrown into a fresh debate after lawyer Nelson Havi urged lawmakers to consider impeaching President William Ruto.
Source: UGC
Havi, who previously served as president of the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), was reacting to Ruto’s statements made during a joint parliamentary group meeting between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The rare session on Monday, August 18, brought together MPs and senators from the two parties, with both Ruto and Raila Odinga present.
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Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, advocate Grace Nyambura explained that Nelson Havi’s call for impeachment should not be dismissed as mere political grandstanding, but instead viewed within the legal framework of accountability.
Nyambura emphasised that impeachment is a weighty process that should only be pursued if Parliament can demonstrate that the president’s statements amount to a violation of the Constitution or gross misconduct.
She pointed out that the burden lies with lawmakers to decide whether they want to defend the integrity of the House through institutional processes or resolve the matter politically.
“Impeachment is not simply about political retaliation; it is a constitutional safeguard,” she said. “If Members of Parliament believe that President Ruto’s allegations are reckless and unfounded, they have both the right and the duty to invoke the available constitutional mechanisms. Equally, if the president has proof, he must act on it decisively to restore public faith,” she told TUKO.co.ke.
Why does Havi want lawmakers to impeach Ruto?
In his address, Ruto accused a section of legislators of taking bribes worth millions of shillings to influence how they voted on certain bills.
He warned that such conduct was damaging the reputation of parliament and promised to expose and have those involved arrested.
The remarks sparked sharp reactions, with some lawmakers dismissing the claims as reckless.
Havi, however, challenged parliament to take the president head-on if they truly felt offended. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he argued that the situation demanded accountability on either side.
The lawyer noted that the matter was not simply about political rivalry but about safeguarding public trust in institutions.
He stressed that the credibility of both parliament and the presidency was at stake, adding that the country deserved clarity rather than accusations left hanging in the air.
“If parliament, both the National Assembly and the Senate, are genuinely aggrieved by the serious allegations of corruption made against them, then they should move to impeach the President. One of the two is telling the truth, and both of them cannot be wrong. Kenyans need to know who is right,” Havi said.
Why are MPs on go-slow against Ruto?
In a related development, members of Parliament staged a go-slow on Tuesday, August 19, paralysing committee work in the National Assembly.
During their normal sitting, MPs expressed open anger at the president’s remarks, accusing him of painting Parliament as corrupt without offering evidence.
They argued that the sweeping allegations undermined the credibility of the House and were an insult to the democratic institution that also legitimises the presidency.
As part of their protest, all National Assembly committees suspended their activities. Senate committees, however, proceeded with their business as usual. Lawmakers maintained that the decision was deliberate, aimed at sending a strong message to the head of state.
Source: Twitter
Will MPs defend parliament against Ruto’s accusations?
Speaking in parliament, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed told lawmakers that corruption charges should be directed at individuals, not the entire Parliament, which holds a constitutional mandate from the people.
He warned against reducing the House into a political battlefield and maintained that corruption exists across all arms of government, not only in the legislature.
Junet assured colleagues that parliament’s leadership would stand firm and confront attempts to discredit the institution.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
