Moses Kuria happy about Executive–Parliament clash
Former senior Economic Adviser to the President, Moses Kuria, has welcomed the clash between President William Ruto and Members of Parliament, saying it signals an end to the long-standing control of Parliament by the Executive.
Speaking during a local television interview on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Kuria said Kenyans should be happy that the two arms of government are now openly confronting each other. He emphasised that the current situation should be viewed as a healthy development for the country, as it signals greater independence of the two arms of government.
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“Today, to have a situation where the Executive and Parliament are fighting, Kenya is happier. The yoke of the stranglehold of Parliament by the Executive is over. I wish they continue fighting,” Kuria said.
Ruto to Parliament
His remarks come days after President Ruto publicly accused MPs of turning parliamentary committees into corruption hubs. Addressing the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the Head of State alleged that oversight committees had abandoned their constitutional duty and were instead running extortion rackets.
“Something is happening in Parliament that must be called out. There is money being demanded from the executive, from governors, from people in the executive, especially those who are for accountability,” Ruto said.
He added that some MPs were using their positions to demand payments in exchange for favourable reports.
“It cannot continue to be business as usual. It cannot be committees of Parliament demand to be paid for them to write reports or look the other way,” he said.
President Ruto also directed criticism at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, insisting that no one should be spared if found guilty of graft.
“I have made it clear to EACC that there will be no sacred cows. There will be no phone calls from below or above to stop anyone from being prosecuted,” he said.
The President further accused the Judiciary of frustrating the fight against corruption by issuing anticipatory bail to individuals facing serious allegations.
“Do not be a haven for the corrupt to hide behind judicial decisions. We have an innovation that is only available in Kenya that allows a corrupt person, someone who has stolen public funds, or somebody in breach of the law, not to be prosecuted. The anticipatory bail is an innovation that takes us backwards,” Ruto said.
He questioned the rationale behind courts granting such orders.
“Just let us ask ourselves, someone who has stolen public funds goes to court and asks for anticipatory bail, making it impossible for such a person to be arrested and prosecuted, how does that help in the fight against corruption? That is something we must ask our friends at the Judiciary,” he added.
The President emphasised that corruption continues to undermine his administration’s transformation agenda and urged all arms of government to join forces in safeguarding public resources.
“We are undertaking a transformation in Kenya, but it is being undermined by corruption. All arms of government and agencies must work together to ensure public resources are used for the purpose they are intended for,” he said.
He revealed that his government had taken steps to strengthen anti-corruption laws, pointing to his recent signing of the Conflict of Interest Bill.
“I did sign into law, a few weeks ago, legislation that will fight against corruption by signing into law the Conflict of Interest Bill. I do expect that agencies charged with making sure there is accountability at all levels of government take up their role as efficiently and effectively as the law and Constitution mandate them,” Ruto said.
Summon
The President’s accusations have triggered fierce reactions in Parliament, with Senators demanding that he be summoned to substantiate his claims.
Senators, led by Public Accounts Committee Chair Moses Kajwang’, called on the Speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate to use their powers under Article 125 of the Constitution to compel the President to appear. They argued that sweeping allegations made without evidence threaten Parliament’s credibility and could undermine devolution.
“Article 125 gives us the power to compel any person to appear before this committee. This includes the President, who is making claims of unethical conduct by members of Parliament,” Senator Kajwang’ stated.
Members of the Senate Public Accounts Committee further warned the Speakers to act or face impeachment proceedings.
“It’s not us that are weak, it’s the leadership of the House that is weak. We’re being invaded by the Executive and our leadership is not saying anything,” Senator Enoch Wambua said, while Senator Samson Cherargei added, “When Parliament is under attack, the leadership of the House must be at the forefront to defend it… they will go before we go.”
Meanwhile, members of the National Assembly formally paralysed committee business in protest. MPs, expressing outrage at being collectively branded as corrupt, abandoned their chambers and locked committee rooms in solidarity. Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto voiced the sentiment of many when he asked the Speaker to defend the integrity of the House, warning that MPs were now being viewed with suspicion even when doing their duties.
Other MPs, such as Junet Mohamed, rejected the implication that the entire House was corrupt.
“He who alleges must prove. The burden of proof is with the people who have alleged, not with us,” he said, emphasising that individual misconduct should not tarnish the whole institution.
