RUTO ISSUES WARNING TO BRIBE GIVERS AND TAKERS

President William Ruto has issued a strong warning to corrupt Members of Parliament, declaring that both those who give and receive bribes linked to legislative processes will face arrest. Speaking on Monday, August 18, 2025, during the ODM-Kenya Kwanza dialogue in Karen, Nairobi, Ruto emphasized that the government would take firm action against corruption in Parliament. He asserted that legal consequences await both bribe-givers and recipients, signalling a hard-line stance against legislative misconduct.

“We won’t just name and shame them—we will arrest them. Whether you’re giving or receiving bribes, we will deal with you,” Ruto warned. He went on to accuse a group of MPs of accepting Ksh10 million to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill—legislation with significant implications for Kenya’s financial oversight. “Do you know some members of your committee took Ksh10 million to approve the anti-money laundering law? he asked. Ruto further disclosed that some individuals are using Parliament’s name to solicit money, often pocketing the funds themselves rather than channelling them through official parliamentary structures. These remarks come just days after Ruto claimed that some MPs and Senators are accepting bribes to influence decisions in both the National Assembly and the Senate.

During the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay on Wednesday, August 13, the President alleged that lawmakers, especially those in parliamentary committees, have been soliciting bribes from Cabinet Secretaries, governors, and officials within the Executive in exchange for favourable outcomes. Responding to Senate Speaker Amason Kingi’s call for greater accountability among governors and county governments, Ruto added, “While I support the Speaker’s statement on holding counties accountable, the Legislature must also be scrutinized. There are troubling practices taking place in Parliament that we must confront.”