Wamuchomba: Ruto branding MPs corrupt a tactic to impress foreign lenders for loans
By William Muthama, August 23, 2025Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has criticised President William Ruto over his recent remarks branding Members of Parliament (MPs) as corrupt, claiming the move was carefully designed to impress international partners and unlock more external loans.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, August 23, 2025, Wamuchomba argued that the President’s comments were less about accountability and more about appealing to foreign lenders eager to see Kenya tighten its governance standards before granting additional credit.
The remarks follow claims made by the President, who alleged that intelligence reports had exposed a scheme where an individual paid Ksh150 million to a Senate committee.
He further claimed that some lawmakers collected Ksh10 million to facilitate the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering law.
Wamuchomba questioned the timing and intention behind Ruto’s accusation, suggesting they were part of a broader strategy to signal to international financial institutions that his administration is cracking down on corruption.
“The President knows very well the impact of such statements internationally. These claims are meant to sanitise his image abroad and secure more loans, not to genuinely fight corruption at home,” she said.
She warned that such generalisations risk eroding public trust in Parliament and weakening the institution’s role as a watchdog.
“When the Head of State brands MPs wholesale as corrupt, he not only discredits the institution but also undermines democracy. The fight against corruption should be based on facts, investigations, and prosecutions, not political statements,” Wamuchomba stressed.
She further accused Ruto of using human rights violations as bargaining chips with donors, citing recent proclamations on compensating victims of protest killings.
“If he really cared, he would have stopped the police and army from killing in the first place,” she said, adding that such announcements were meant to appease funders, not Kenyans.
Turning to Parliament, Wamuchomba questioned Ruto’s credibility in branding MPs corrupt while hosting them at State House.
“If MPs are corrupt, who is the supplier? Who gives them the money? He talked of 10 million shillings. By who? Let him bring evidence,” she challenged
Her comments add to the growing debate sparked by Ruto’s remarks, with sections of the political class urging the President to substantiate his claims or take decisive legal action against those implicated.