Section of Senators demand President Ruto be summoned to give evidence over alleged bribery in Parliament

Outraged Senators on Tuesday pressed for immediate investigations and disciplinary action against colleagues accused of running a bribery scheme in parliamentary committees, saying the scandal has placed the Senate’s integrity in jeopardy.

The legislators demanded that anyone involved be summoned immediately to account for their actions, warning that failure to act could erode public confidence in Parliament.

The debate follows President Ruto’s accusations that MPs and senators have solicited bribes from government officers appearing before committees. Speaking at the 2025 Devolution Conference last week, he claimed cabinet secretaries and governors had fallen victim to extortion.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also weighed in, questioning the Senate’s oversight of counties.

“I believe in a balance of power between Nairobi and the counties; none should stand in the way of the other. I believe in strong county executives overseen by equally strong county assemblies. County governments are supposed to be overseen by county assemblies, not the Senate. The Senate doesn’t have to be summoning Governors to appear before Senators in Nairobi,” he said.

Senators voiced anger over the alleged extortion scheme, demanding swift action.

Addressing the media at Bunge Towers, Senate Accounts Committee Chairperson Moses Kajwang, flanked by members Jones Mwaruma (vice-chair), Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Enock Wambua (Kitui), and Samson Cherargei (Nandi), challenged Speaker Amason Kingi and Moses Wetangula to invoke Article 125 of the Constitution and summon President William Ruto to shed light on his recent bribery allegations.

“We are challenging our two speakers to come out and summon the President over claims he has been making with regard to bribery,” Kajwang said.

He noted that the House expects the President to provide evidence of the unethical conduct he has publicly referred to.

“We expect the speaker of the Senate to summon the president to come and provide evidence of the unethical conduct he has been referring to in the public domain,” he said.

Senator Cherargei emphasised that Parliament and county assemblies alike have the authority to summon anyone.

“The president is a person because, in case of any impeachment proceeding, they appear before the House to defend themselves. No one is exempt from the law to appear before both Houses or committees,” he said.

Sifuna criticised governors for using the recent Devolution Conference in Homa Bay as a platform to attack senators.

“Governors provided a platform in Homa Bay for the senators to be attacked. What is this that needs to happen for you to say that no, we are not bribing senators? What are you waiting for?” he posed.

He warned that the scandal could compromise the perception of all Senate decisions.

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“They have put us in a very wrong place; every decision we will be making will be viewed as if we have taken something from someone. Take an example of impeachment, if we impeach, they will say we have taken money from someone; if we save a Governor, they will say we have taken money from the Governor,” he said.

Sifuna also criticised Senate leadership for failing to defend the institution.

“The problem is that we don’t have leaders who can defend the Senate. I am putting the leadership of the Senate on notice; they must call out those who are disparaging the House,” he added.

Cherargei also echoed concerns over the House being compromised.

“While Parliament is under attack, it’s the responsibility of the House to defend it. In fact, we are talking, and we are putting them on notice, and we are telling them, they will go before we go,” he said.

Kajwang insisted that the legislators accused of bribery must be grilled.

“They need to be summoned and explain who those people are, who those people being given bribes are, because you cannot try Parliament in a kangaroo court,” he said.

“This is not to protect Parliament but for the good of the public. The gross allegations made by the President can be investigated, and the public can get closure.”