Ruto warns MPs over bribery, says culprits to face arrest

Members of Parliament involved in soliciting bribes will soon be arrested, President William Ruto has declared.

Speaking on Monday during a joint parliamentary group meeting of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs, the President revealed that some lawmakers received a Sh10 million bribe to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill.

“Did you know that a few members of Parliament collected Ksh10 million so that you could pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill. Did you get the money?” the president asked.

According to the head of state, legislators receiving bribes to perform their role have destroyed the credibility of legislation.

Ruto said the MPs involved in the bribery and whoever bribed them would be arrested and charged.

“There are people who are destroying the credibility of parliament. They are collecting money in the name of Parliament. And most of the time, that money never gets to parliament, it gets to a few people,” he said

“We are not going to shame them. We are going to arrest them. Whoever is giving and whoever is being given, we are going to sort them out,” he added.

This comes after the president last week accused the MPs of turning House committees into money-minting rings.

Speaking during the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, the President claimed that MPs were demanding bribes from cabinet secretaries and governors.

“Something is going on in our Legislature that we must call out. There is money being demanded from the Executive, from Governors and Ministers, especially those who go for accountability before our Houses of Parliament,” President Ruto stated.

Ruto asked National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to address the issue in the committees.

“It cannot continue as business as usual. Committees of Parliament should not demand payments for report writing or overlook matters within county or national government.”