Marakwet West MP: Ruto was right on MPs’ bribery claims
By William Muthama, August 23, 2025Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba has come out in defence of President William Ruto, insisting that the President’s recent claims on MPs’ bribery were likely accurate and grounded in intelligence.
In a post on X on Saturday, August 23, 2025, Kipchumba said he did not believe the President was wrong in raising the concerns.
“I don’t think the President was wrong on the allegations made against Parliament. He is the first consumer of National Intelligence,” Kipchumba stated.
He added that such claims must have been supported by credible intelligence reports from relevant state agencies.
Kipchumba stressed that the current focus of Parliament should return to its constitutional mandate of oversight.
“Parliament must now re-focus and exercise its Constitutional role of oversight without being subservient to the executive,” he said.
The MP noted that a strong and independent parliamentary oversight system is critical in assisting the President to deliver on his development agenda and ensuring accountability across government ministries.
The legislator acknowledged that while Ruto’s remarks caused controversy among some MPs, the President’s concerns on integrity and accountability should not be dismissed lightly.
He emphasised that allegations of bribery and corruption undermine public trust and Parliament’s credibility if not addressed promptly and transparently.
Calls for Verification
Ruto’s remarks, made during a joint parliamentary group meeting, cited a governor allegedly spending Ksh150 million to influence senators and claims of an MP receiving Ksh10 million to alter an anti-money laundering law.
“Instead of shaming this person, we will arrest them,” the President warned, prompting uproar in Parliament.
Following the disclosure, which prompted calls for restraint, with some MPs urging Ruto to substantiate the claims, while others called for verification and cautioned against generalisation.
Kipchumba, however, reiterated that intelligence gathering should guide the discussion. “The allegations must have been well-founded and backed by reports from the relevant state agencies,” he said, insisting that Parliament’s role is to ensure accountability rather than obstruct governance.