Cherargei defends Ruto, says Malala’s lobbying claims are baseless
By Paulette Mboga, August 21, 2025A fresh political storm has erupted after Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei came out strongly to defend President William Ruto against allegations made by the Democracy for Citizens’ Party Deputy Leader Cleophas Malala.
The two leaders engaged in a heated exchange following claims that the President was directly involved in lobbying around parliamentary bills.
Speaking in a TV interview on Thursday, August 21, 2025, Senator Cherargei dismissed Malala’s accusations as unfounded and politically motivated.
“President William Ruto has never engaged in direct lobbying. So for Malala to accuse the President, he’s simply trying to score political bonga points,” Cherargei said.
He accused Malala of engaging in cheap politics, adding that such statements only serve to undermine the government’s credibility.
Cherargei further argued that former Deputy President Gachagua’s behaviour was reminiscent of why he was previously impeached, pointing to his history of making divisive remarks.
“People will now understand why the former Deputy President was impeached. We’ve seen him badmouthing the country and promoting negative ethnicity,” he remarked.
Anti-Money Laundering Bill
In sharp contrast, Cleophas Malala has continued to question President Ruto’s conduct, particularly his reaction to the Anti-Money Laundering Bill. According to Malala, the President appeared “too agitated” over the matter, raising questions about his vested interests.
“Why was the President so agitated about one particular bill, the Anti-Money Laundering Bill? It’s because he is a person of interest,” Malala alleged. He went on to claim that Ruto seemed to know bribery attempts linked to the bill, including who was supposed to deliver the money and who was meant to receive it. “His problem now is not the bribery itself, but that the money was never delivered,” Malala said.
The remarks have further deepened divisions within the ruling party, with allies of the President rallying behind him and dismissing Malala’s statements as reckless.
Ruling party under pressure
The clash between Malala and Cherargei underscores the growing tension within UDA as leaders spar over corruption narratives and the President’s role in legislative processes. For Cherargei, defending the President is about protecting the integrity of government institutions. For Malala, however, it is about demanding transparency and accountability at the highest level.