Tension has escalated between the legislature and the executive after the National Assembly paralysed all committee activities in protest over President William Ruto’s recent claims that lawmakers jeopardise parliamentary processes by soliciting bribes.
On Monday, August 18, President Ruto accused sections of MPs of demanding a Ksh10 million bribe to pass the government-backed Anti-Money Laundering Bill, while saying a governor took Ksh150 million to bribe senators to influence their findings.
The sentiments have angered MPs who, in protest, left Parliament chambers deserted and committee rooms locked.
All National Assembly Committee sittings scheduled for Tuesday failed to kick off, with only the Senate Committees meeting with stakeholders continuing, though under protest.
The most recent meeting of the National Assembly Committee is the grilling of NG-CDF Fund Account Managers (FAMs) and Constituency Office Managers (COMs) from the Northeastern region by the Select Committee on NG-CDF that took place on August 15.
The National Assembly operates a range of select committees, including housekeeping, departmental, investigative, and sessional types, each established either for the duration of a parliamentary term or for specific sessions.
These committees are vital for vetting, oversight, legislation review, and public engagement. With the go-slow by MPs, this means that all these vital functions are on hold.
While appearing in Parliament on Tuesday, August 19, MPs from across the political divide united in outrage, accusing the President of undermining the integrity of the legislature and painting all lawmakers with a broad brush of graft.
‘’An allegation of bribery against a member, especially the figures that are being touted, we feel endangered even as we walk the streets. People, first of all, imagine that you have some Sh10 million or some Sh150 million, and others possibly think you are the worst enemy of the people. I urge you, Mr Speaker, to do everything you can to defend the integrity of this house,’’ Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto said.
The move by the MPs comes after President Ruto formed an 11-member ad hoc Multi-Agency Team (MAT) that will be domiciled under the State Department of Justice, Human Rights, and Constitutional Affairs to spearhead his war on graft.
The task force was formed a day after President Ruto threatened to apprehend Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Senate who have allegedly been extorting bribes from government agencies and others to influence legislative work.
Meanwhile, Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang' has urged both the Speaker of the National Assembly, Moses Wetangula, and the Speaker of the Senate, Amason Kingi, to summon President William Ruto to both Houses to explain the allegations he made and provide evidence.
