Mukhisa Kituyi: MPs are shocked about Ruto’s bribery claims
Former United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) boss Mukhisa Kituyi has faulted President William Ruto over what he termed as arrogance over institutions that should be independent.
Kituyi, who spoke in an interview with a local TV station on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, regretted that Ruto has developed a troubling attitude that allows him to speak without considering the consequences of his words.
Parliament in shock
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Kituyi observed that Members of Parliament have been left shocked by Ruto’s audacity, especially because they have long depended on him for political support.
“I think MPs have been shocked at the audacity of the president, who has been very dependent on their support and who has been the source of money to lobby other parliamentarians on what the State House wants.
“Their surprise is that the sponsor is turning on them,” he explained.
He noted that Ruto’s attack on Parliament as the weakest link in the fight against corruption has left many lawmakers unsettled.
According to Kituyi, such sweeping remarks reflect a worrying level of arrogance towards critical democratic institutions.
Civilised approach
Kituyi said that if the president was genuinely concerned about the growth of corruption within Parliament, he should have handled the matter more constructively.
“In a more civilised way, a person who is concerned about corruption in parliament would call the parliamentary leaders and say, ‘There is this phenomenon that is growing. But I think he doesn’t give a damn,” he added.
The former UNCTAD Secretary-General warned that such a leadership style could erode the confidence of both the legislature and the public in the presidency, making governance more confrontational than cooperative.
Kituyi further urged Ruto to learn the importance of respecting institutional boundaries, reminding him that a functioning democracy depends on leaders who strengthen, not undermine, the credibility of independent bodies.
His remarks come at a time when debate continues to rage over Ruto’s claim that Parliament is compromised by corruption. While some leaders have backed his assertion, others, like Kituyi, argue that the president risks alienating vital partners in governance if he continues down this confrontational path.
