President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga on Monday, August 18, co-chaired a joint Kenya Kwanza–ODM parliamentary group meeting at the KCB Leadership Centre in Karen, Nairobi.
The meeting was attended by a broad representation of legislators, but conspicuously absent were ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna alongside Embakasi East MP Babu Owino.
Among those present were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed, Senate Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo, and UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar.
Other leaders in attendance included Nominated MP Sabina Chege, Mandera Senator Ali Roba, Tigania East MP Mpuri Aburi, Migori Senator Eddy Oketh, Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’, and South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro.
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The meeting focused on other issues, among them corruption within parliamentary committees.
As such, Ruto announced that MPs involved in soliciting and receiving bribes will be arrested.
He went on to reveal that some lawmakers received a Ksh10 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?” he posed.
Ruto said the MPs collecting bribes to perform their legislative duties are destroying the credibility of Parliament and they 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.
"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 said.
Speaking during the same meeting, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed downplayed corruption claims against Ruto, insisting that what takes place in the House is lobbying and not bribery.
He said Ruto's remarks misrepresented what happens in Parliament, adding that lobbying is a globally recognized practice.
"There are certain pronouncements you made about Parliament, President Ruto. I assumed you were referring to lobbying, but the one you described is different from what is practiced globally, and I thought you meant we should reduce it," he said.
Junet clarified that lobbying is an external process, widely acknowledged across democracies, and not the same as what Ruto described.
"You know, the people who do lobbying are outside Parliament, not inside. It is a recognized international standard practice everywhere. But the one you spoke about is alien to us. I have never seen that before," he added.
