Monday, August 18, 2025 - Suna East MP, Junet Mohamed, has dismissed President William Ruto’s claims that parliamentary committees are involved in corruption, insisting that the activities taking place in the House amount to lobbying, not bribery.
Speaking on Monday, August 18th, Junet said the
President’s remarks misrepresented parliamentary practices, adding that
lobbying is a legitimate and internationally recognized process.
“There are certain pronouncements you made about Parliament,
President Ruto.”
“I assumed you were referring to lobbying, but the one you
described is different from what is practiced globally, and I thought you meant
we should reduce it,” he stated.
Junet explained that lobbying typically occurs outside
Parliament and is widely accepted across democracies.
“The people who do lobbying are outside Parliament, not
inside.”
“It is a recognized international standard practice
everywhere. But the one you spoke about is alien to us; I have never seen that
before,” he added.
His remarks followed Ruto’s criticism of Parliament during
the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay on August 13th.
The President accused MPs of turning committees into
“extortion rings”, alleging that some legislators demand payments from Cabinet
Secretaries and Governors to write favorable reports or overlook accountability
issues.
Ruto further vowed to combat graft, directing the Ethics and
Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to act without political interference.
“There will be no sacred cow, no telephone call to stop
anybody from being prosecuted on matters of corruption,” he said.
The Head of State also faulted the Judiciary for enabling
impunity through anticipatory bail, which he described as a uniquely Kenyan
practice that shields corrupt individuals from prosecution.
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