President William Ruto has intensified his war on corruption, recently turning his attention to Parliament by accusing it of fostering graft and failing its role as the electorate’s watchdog. These accusations, made during various high-profile events including a joint parliamentary group meeting on August 18, 2025, in Karen, Nairobi, and the 2025 Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, have sparked considerable debate. The President alleged that some Members of Parliament (MPs) were involved in bribery, specifically claiming that certain committee members collected Sh10 million to impede the passage of an anti-money laundering law. Furthermore, he asserted that Cabinet Secretaries and governors have fallen victim to extortion by legislators, questioning the source of unexplained wealth among county officials.

In response to these grave allegations, members of the Senate Accounts Committee, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’, strongly challenged the Speakers of Parliament, Moses Wetang’ula (National Assembly) and Amason Kingi (Senate), to summon President Ruto to provide evidence for his claims. During a committee session at Bunge Towers on Tuesday, August 19, Senators Kajwang’, Jones Mwaruma, Edwin Sifuna, Enock Wambua, and Samson Cherargei cited Article 125 of the Constitution, which grants Parliament and its committees the power to summon any person for evidence or information. Senator Cherargei emphasized that the President is not exempt from this process, noting that even in impeachment proceedings, the President must appear before the House to defend themselves.

The President’s accusations and the Senate’s challenge have ignited broader discussions on parliamentary oversight and accountability. Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga also weighed in, questioning the Senate’s direct oversight of counties. He stated his belief in a balance of power, suggesting that county governments should primarily be overseen by equally strong county assemblies, rather than the Senate frequently summoning governors to Nairobi. This perspective sparked debate among senators, particularly regarding past instances where governors allegedly used platforms like the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay to criticize senators, as noted by Senator Sifuna.

Simultaneously with his public warnings, President Ruto has taken a concrete step in the fight against corruption by forming a Multi-Agency Team (MAT). This team, established shortly after his stern warnings to public officials, is designed to lead Kenya’s anti-corruption efforts. Chaired by the Executive Office of the President, the MAT comprises 11 key state institutions, including the Office of the Attorney General (serving as secretary), National Intelligence Service (NIS), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA). Other agencies can be co-opted as needed.

The MAT’s funding will be drawn from the budgets of its member institutions, with additional support if required. Its core objectives are to enhance collaboration among these agencies, facilitate intelligence sharing, mobilize resources, develop public awareness campaigns, and work with international partners to trace and recover stolen assets. President Ruto has repeatedly declared a zero-tolerance policy for corruption, asserting that there will be “no sacred cows” and no external interference in the prosecution of corruption cases. The intensified focus on corruption has already had an impact, with National Assembly sittings reportedly paralyzed as MPs suspended committee business in response to the renewed attacks on Parliament’s integrity.