Aasai

MPs and senators showed open anger following President William Rutos accusations of corruption and boycotted a session they had planned to debate key government bills yesterday morning. The National Assembly adjourned its morning session due to a lack of quorum, despite having important government agendas, with analysts saying the move by MPs could be a way to complain after President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga strongly accused them of involvement in corruption.

According to the National Assembly calendar, every Tuesday, MPs meet at 8:30 pm for a plenary session, with the morning being reserved for committee business. However, last week, the House passed a resolution to hold an emergency sitting yesterday morning, to complete important government business before the long recess scheduled to begin today, August 20, 2025. But by the time Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss entered the debate hall, only about three MPs were present. According to the Constitution, at least 50 out of 349 MPs must be present in the chamber for Parliament to function properly. “Since there is not a sufficient number of MPs, Parliament is hereby adjourned until 8:30 pm,” Ms Boss announced.

 In the afternoon session, MPs from all parties strongly criticised the president’s statement and even called on Senate and National Assembly Speakers Amason Kingi and Moses Wetang’ula to order President Ruto to present evidence he has on their involvement in corruption. The MPs threatened to sack the speakers if they do not summon the head of state to appear before them to give evidence. “Speakers Wetang’ula and Kingi, you are the heads of this institution, you must invoke Article 125 and summon the President. 

That article does not protect the President. It states that Parliament has the power to summon anyone,” said Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’. “Let the President appear before the parliamentary committee and repeat what he has been saying in public meetings. Let him produce evidence so that it can be dealt with according to the law. 

The two speakers must stand firm,” he added. At the first joint meeting of Kenya Kwanza and ODM involving senators on Monday, President Ruto said MPs who take bribes will be prosecuted instead of just shamed. Mr Odinga also claimed that MPs should not be managing the National Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF), adding that some of them are abusing their power. Yesterday afternoon, led by majority and minority leaders Kimani Ichungwah and Junet Mohamed, MPs strongly criticised the statements of the two leaders of the Unity Government for tarnishing their integrity.

 The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, George Gitonga Muragura, has denied allegations that the committee and its members received a bribe of Sh10 million while considering the Anti-Money Laundering Amendment Bill 2025. “On behalf of the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs,I would like to state very clearly that the committee neither solicited nor received any inducement from any person or party while considering the Anti-Money Laundering Amendment Bill 2025, as alleged,” said the MP. Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo said the President had disrespected the MPs by claiming they were corrupt.

 “Some of us have a reputation to protect outside the parliament and when someone says we are corrupt, he is degrading us,” he said. The Bumula MP claimed the President was angry with the MPs for exposing the corruption in e-Citizen. The two bills tabled on behalf of the government by the Majority Leader in Parliament Kimani Ichungwah (Kikuyu MP) were scheduled to be discussed at the committee stage of the whole Parliament, where the real work of lawmaking takes place but Mr Ichungwah was not in the parliament during the morning session.

 Also, there was the Digital Crimes and Computer Misuse Amendment Bill (2025), where the final vote was to be taken. The Lawyers’ Amendment Bill (2025) was also to be discussed through the Rights and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Tharaka MP Gitonga Murugara who also boycotted the session. Another Bill is the Roads Amendment Bill (2025), sponsored by Homa Bay Urban MP Peter Kaluma which was expected to be read for the second time. But Kaluma also did not attend. The Tourism and Wildlife Committee chaired by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki was to review the ministry’s report on the frequent conflicts between humans and animals in Igembe North, Chepalungu and Aldai areas, the disappearance of fisherman Brian Makori Odhiambo from Nakuru, the decline in the country’s tourism sector and cases of snakebite in Baringo.

 As MPs expressed their anger, President William Ruto launched the Inter-Agency Task Force on Combating Corruption (MAT), a move he said would bring new impetus to his governments war against corruption.where the final vote was to be taken. The Lawyers Act Amendment Bill (2025) was also to be discussed through the Rights and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Tharaka MP, Gitonga Murugara who also boycotted the session. Another Bill is the Roads Amendment Bill (2025), sponsored by Homa Bay Urban MP Peter Kaluma which was expected to be read for the second time. But Kaluma also did not attend.

 The Tourism and Wildlife Committee chaired by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki was to review the ministrys report on the frequent conflicts between humans and animals in Igembe North, Chepalungu and Aldai areas, the disappearance of fisherman Brian Makori Odhiambo from Nakuru, the decline in the countrys tourism sector and cases of snakebites in Baringo. As MPs expressed their anger, President William Ruto launched the Inter-Agency Anti-Corruption Task Force (MAT), a move he said would bring new impetus to his governments fight against corruption.where the final vote was to be taken. 

The Lawyers Act Amendment Bill (2025) was also to be discussed through the Rights and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Tharaka MP, Gitonga Murugara who also boycotted the session. Another Bill is the Roads Amendment Bill (2025), sponsored by Homa Bay Urban MP Peter Kaluma which was expected to be read for the second time. But Kaluma also did not attend. The Tourism and Wildlife Committee chaired by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki was to review the ministrys report on the frequent conflicts between humans and animals in Igembe North, Chepalungu and Aldai areas, the disappearance of fisherman Brian Makori Odhiambo from Nakuru, the decline in the countrys tourism sector and cases of snakebites in Baringo. As MPs expressed their anger, President William Ruto launched the Inter-Agency Anti-Corruption Task Force (MAT), a move he said would bring new impetus to his governments fight against corruption.