President William Ruto has intensified his criticism of the Kenyan Parliament, accusing it of fostering corruption, an assertion that has drawn sharp reactions from Members of Parliament (MPs) and civil society organizations. During a joint Parliamentary Group meeting in Karen, Nairobi, on August 18, 2025, President Ruto alleged that some members of a parliamentary committee received Sh10 million to pass an anti-money laundering law. This specific accusation targeted the 15-member National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, which had processed the bill to amend the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws.

The President's remarks have led to a significant uproar within the legislative body, with MPs expressing concerns about a perceived leadership vacuum and a failure to protect Parliament’s constitutional mandate as the electorate’s watchdog. National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed criticized the Executive for overstepping its boundaries, particularly regarding banking regulations. He strongly advised citizens to disregard requests from banks for explanations on large sum withdrawals, stating that no law mandates such disclosures and that only Parliament has the authority to legislate on banking transactions. Mohamed also warned the executive against enforcing policies without parliamentary approval, referencing a past rejected circular from the Central Bank governor.

In response to President Ruto's bribery allegations, Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo called for the Powers and Privileges Committee to summon the President, or failing that, the Head of Public Service and the Secretary to the Cabinet, to provide evidence for his claims. Similarly, Senate Accounts Committee Chairperson Moses Kajwang urged House speakers to summon the President, citing Article 125 of the Constitution which grants Parliament the power to summon any person for information. Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed highlighted the pressure MPs are facing amidst these accusations.

Amidst these accusations, President Ruto announced the formation of a multi-agency team to spearhead Kenya’s war on corruption. Chaired by the Executive Office of the President, this team includes representatives from 11 state institutions, such as the Attorney General’s office, National Intelligence Service, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), and the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), among others. Ruto emphasized the need for independent institutions to enhance their efforts against corruption, which he stated has depleted national resources and eroded public trust.

However, the legality and constitutionality of this multi-agency team have been challenged in the High Court. Nakuru Surgeon Dr. Magare Gikenyi and three co-applicants filed a case, leading Judge Bahati Mwamuye to issue conservatory orders staying the operations and implementation of the President’s proclamation. The applicants contend that the President lacks the constitutional authority under Article 132 to establish an anti-corruption agency, arguing that such powers are exclusive to existing independent bodies like the EACC. They further argue that the team duplicates duties, represents an imprudent use of public funds, and could lead to biased outcomes or political witch-hunts, especially with the Executive heading the team and the involvement of agencies like the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Intelligence Service (NIS), which they argue compromises their independence. The applicants also pointed to alleged corruption in projects like the Social Health Authority (SHA) system and e-Citizen platform, implying that the President’s team could shield the executive from scrutiny.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) operating under the National Integrity Alliance have also weighed in, urging President Ruto to name the lawmakers involved in corruption rather than making broad accusations through the media. These groups, including the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Transparency International-Kenya (TI-Kenya), accused the President of being a mastermind of corruption and called for swift enforcement of the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025. They suggested that if the President is serious about fighting corruption, he should present evidence to facilitate arrests, citing the Auditor General’s report that flagged procurement flaws in government programs allegedly linked to State House, indicating potential conflicts of interest and political interference.