Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has accused President William Ruto of engaging the Senate in ‘preemptive blackmail’ by alleging that senators are bribed during impeachment proceedings.
This is after the president claimed that some senators have received up to Ksh150 million to influence impeachment outcomes.
“The latest Soko Huru in the Senate, where does somebody find Ksh150 million, where, is that his money, that is money that belongs to the county,’’ President Ruto said on Monday during a joint parliamentary meeting between ODM and UDA.
While President Ruto did not name specific individuals, the timing of his statement has raised eyebrows across the political scene, with Senator Karungo alleging that it was a plot to blackmail senators ahead of the upcoming impeachment hearing of Kericho Governor Erick Mutai.
Senator Karungo did not deny that cases of senators being bribed are present. However, he accused the president of manipulating public perception to control the narrative.
“By shouting that Senators are bribed during impeachment proceedings, he’s not suddenly discovering graft; he’s laying the groundwork to manipulate perception,’’ the senator said.
“We know money has exchanged hands before, but why raise it now, just as the Senate begins hearing the charges against Governor Erick Mutai of Kericho?’’ the senator continued.
The senator went further, suggesting that Ruto’s comments were strategically timed to corner the Senate.
“It’s simple: he wants to corner the Senate into dancing to State House tunes. If we impeach, he takes credit. If we don’t, he says we were bought. That’s not defeating graft, that’s fortifying the truth for political convenience,” the senator continued.
This year alone, two governors have appeared before the Senate for impeachment hearings. Kericho's Mutai, who survived the first hearing and is slated for a second one after MCAs impeached him again, bringing the tally to three.
The other governors are former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, and Isiolo's Abdi Guyo who survived his impeachment.
According to Senator Karungo, Ruto’s call out while the Senate awaits Mutai’s hearing is not a good sign for the embattled governor.
Mutai was impeached for a second time after 33 out of 47 Members of the Kericho County Assembly voted in favour of his impeachment. The embattled governor is set to appear in the Senate on Wednesday, August 20.
