Opiyo Wandayi to MPs: Stop empty threats of ousting Ruto
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has hit out at a section of lawmakers issuing threats that they could remove President William Ruto from office.
This is after President William Ruto accused a section of the Members of Parliament (MPs) of receiving bribes to vote against the recently enacted anti-money laundering law.
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Speaking in Ugunja on Saturday, August 24, 2025, Wandayi dismissed the remarks as reckless, warning MPs against misleading Kenyans with what he termed “empty threats”.
“Saa wewe unaonge kama nani? Unaongea kwa niaba ya nani? Na wewe uko na nguvu ya kutoka wapi Kenya hii? Wewe nani amekupatia nguvu ya kuweka na kutoa rais?” Wandayi posed, insisting that no individual legislator has the authority to unseat the Head of State.
He described such statements as dangerous and premature, especially coming from first-time MPs who, he argued, were yet to finish even a single parliamentary term.
“Unapata mbunge hata term moja hajamaliza bungeni, anajitokeza mchana hadharani na anatoa vitisho visivyo na maana ya kwamba wao ndio walimweka rais kwa kiti na watamtoa. Wewe pengine ulichangia kuweka yeye kwa kiti lakini sisi tutahakikisha ya kwamba hautamtoa,” Wandayi said.
He added that when election time comes, it is the people of Kenya who will decide whether to retain or remove a leader through the ballot, not through public threats or street declarations.
“Na wakati wa kura utakapofika, tutajua mbivu na mbichi.”
Ruto on corruption
Speaking during a joint parliamentary group meeting with ODM and UDA legislators on Monday, August 18, Ruto said he was aware of corrupt dealings within parliamentary committees.
“There are legitimate concerns about how resources are being spent at the counties, and we cannot run away. By virtue of the position I hold today, I am a consumer of raw intelligence. I know what’s going on,” he said.
The President claimed that some MPs were compromised with millions of shillings to frustrate critical laws.
“Do you, for example, know that a few members of your committee collected Ksh10 million so that you don’t pass that law on anti-money laundering? Did you get the money?” he asked.
Ruto also raised questions on how some county officials access large sums of cash.
“Where does somebody find Ksh150 million? Is that his money? That is money that belongs to the county,” he noted.
He warned that corruption was eroding the credibility of Parliament and undermining public trust.
The President said that there are a few people within parliament who are spoiling the name of parliament.
“There are people who are destroying the credibility of Parliament, and they are collecting money in the name of Parliament, and most of the time that money never gets to Parliament; it gets to a few people,” he said.
Ruto vowed that going forward, it will not only be about shaming them, but anyone implicated in bribery scandals will be arrested.
“We are not going to shame them. We are going to arrest them. Both the givers and receivers must be dealt with,” he stated.
