Kipruto Kirwa: Wetang’ula playing sycophant with corruption talk
By Paulette Mboga, August 25, 2025Former Agriculture Cabinet Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa has sharply criticised Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula over his recent remarks on corruption within Parliament.
Kirwa questioned Wetang’ula’s sincerity in claiming that he has received reports about corrupt Members of Parliament, yet has taken no action.
Speaking in a TV interview on Monday, August 25, 2025, Kirwa posed, “Speaker Wetang’ula’s utterances are obnoxious, and he is playing the sycophancy card by saying he has received reports of corrupt MPs. The big question is: what has he done with that information?”
According to Kirwa, Wetang’ula’s public statements risk being perceived as empty rhetoric meant to distract Kenyans rather than meaningful action against corruption.
He argued that if the Speaker indeed has information about legislators involved in corruption, he should act decisively rather than simply raising an alarm without follow-through.
Kirwa accuses Ruto’s regime
Beyond Wetang’ula, Kirwa extended his criticism to President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of deliberately weakening independent institutions. He claimed that the regime has consistently undermined both Parliament and the Judiciary to consolidate power.
“Ruto’s regime has been the most vicious in watering down institutions like Parliament in his favour and in threatening the Judiciary. For him to have the audacity to say that Parliament is corrupt and that he is not part of the corruption network is, to say the least, foolhardy and akin to mocking the public,” Kirwa said.
The former minister warned that such utterances risk eroding public confidence in governance, particularly when those in leadership positions appear unwilling to back their words with action. He noted that Kenyans are already burdened with a high cost of living and disillusionment over unfulfilled promises, making it dangerous for leaders to trivialise corruption.
Kirwa’s comments highlight growing public frustration with the government’s handling of accountability issues. As debate around corruption in Parliament intensifies, Kirwa’s remarks raise pressure on Wetang’ula to clarify what steps, if any, have been taken regarding the reports of corrupt MPs.
Similarly, they add to the chorus of voices demanding that the Ruto administration demonstrate genuine commitment to strengthening, rather than weakening, Kenya’s democratic institutions.