Kenyan President William Ruto recently attacked members of parliament

Kenyan President William Ruto recently attacked members of parliament, claiming they were receiving bribes from government officials who appeared before their committees. "Our members of parliament must be warned. They are soliciting money from central government officials, ministers, and governors, especially those who appear before them to speak on various issues," Ruto said at the opening of the Devolution Conference 2025 in Homa Bay. The Devolution Conference is Kenya's premier governance forum focused on decentralized governance and is organized by the Council of Governors (CoG) in collaboration with various government and non-government stakeholders. The conference brings together thought leaders, policymakers, practitioners, development partners, private sector representatives, academics, and citizens (Mwananchi) to discuss decentralization in Kenya and chart a path forward. It provides a platform for sharing experiences, best practices, and innovations in decentralized governance. The president's statement shocked many, as it brought to light rumors that Parliament is a hotbed of corruption. The Kenyan Parliament is portrayed by President William Ruto and other sources as a place with significant corruption problems. According to a recent 2024 Ethics and Corruption Survey, bribes are widespread in Kenya's government ministries and public services, and Ruto has explicitly accused members of Parliament of accepting bribes. These allegations have led to political tensions but also to widespread support among the population, who are dissatisfied with corruption. However, members of Parliament are demanding evidence and emphasizing that corruption should be treated individually and that the entire Parliament should not be branded as corrupt. An investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been launched to examine these allegations. There are reports of bribery, manipulation of committee budgets, questionable foreign travel, and vote-buying in Parliament. The culture of corruption appears to be deeply rooted, and the president and anti-corruption activists have made it clear that they intend to combat bribery and cronyism. Critics, however, allege that the president himself and previous governments have often undermined the independence of parliament. These governments ensured that parliament acted in its own interest and did not criticize the central government. One example is the year 2023. Before MPs voted on the Finance Bill introducing the housing levy, President Ruto immediately recognized that the bill faced opposition, so he made a statement that was interpreted as a threat to MPs. He said: "I am waiting to see MPs who oppose the government's plan to create jobs for our youth, many of whom are its constituents." The message was clear: anyone who dared to oppose the bill would be punished. This government pressure undermines the role of parliament as the representative of the people in the legislative process and even in budget preparation.