Senator Kajwang: Ruto must appear in Senate over bribery claims
By William Muthama, August 19, 2025Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang has called on President William Ruto to appear before the Senate to respond to accusations of parliamentary bribery.
Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Kajwang emphasised that the matter must be addressed through proper parliamentary channels rather than public accusations.
“For the president to make allegations of unethical conduct, he must come and present evidence. The law gives this committee powers to summon anyone, including the president,” the senator said.
He stressed that handling the allegations through statutory processes will protect Parliament’s credibility and integrity.
No kangaroo courts
Kajwang warned against what he described as a “kangaroo court mentality”, urging that all claims of misconduct be investigated according to the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act.
He noted that both Speakers of the National Assembly, Moses Wetang’ula, and the Senate, Amason Kingi, who chair the Powers and Privileges Committees, have the authority to convene meetings and hear evidence from anyone claiming unethical conduct.
“You cannot try Parliament in public or shame members without following due process. The committee must hear evidence from the president or any other individual alleging wrongdoing and take action accordingly,” he said.
Kajwang also emphasised that proper procedure ensures justice for both the accuser and the accused.
Parliamentary accountability
The senator’s remarks follow claims made by President Ruto during an ODM-Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting in Karen on Monday, August 18, 2025.
The president claimed that intelligence reports revealed a scheme in which someone paid Ksh150 million to a Senate committee and claimed that some members collected Ksh10 million to pass the Anti-Money Laundering law, money that never reached Parliament.
Kajwang argued that such accusations, if true, are serious and must be investigated through the relevant parliamentary committees.
He called on the speakers of both houses to ensure that the president presents evidence before the appropriate committees, warning that public accusations without verification could undermine Parliament’s reputation.
“The law already provides mechanisms to investigate misconduct. We must use those tools instead of turning Parliament into a theatre for public shaming,” he said.