President William Ruto has taken a firm stance against corruption within Parliament, promising to crack down on Members of Parliament and Senators allegedly running an extortion racket known as soko huru. According to intelligence reports shared with him, the scheme involves committee members demanding payments from governors and other top leaders in exchange for leniency during grilling sessions or to suppress critical reports.
What Is Soko Huru?
The term soko huru refers to a hidden extortion system that has reportedly infiltrated parliamentary committees. Summoned officials are pressured to part with large sums of money to avoid tough questioning or damaging reports. President Ruto revealed that in a recent case, a staggering Ksh.150 million was paid to a Senate committee.
“For example, the latest soko huru in the Senate. By virtue of the position I hold, I am a consumer of raw intelligence; I know what is going on. Where does somebody find Ksh.150 million. That is money that belongs to the county,” he stated.
How Is It Affecting Parliament’s Credibility?
Ruto warned that such schemes are eroding the integrity of Parliament by turning it into a money-making tool for a few individuals. He insisted that those responsible will face justice.
“They are collecting money in the name of Parliament. Most of the time, that money never gets to Parliament; it goes to a few people. We are not going to shame them, we are going to arrest them,” he vowed.
The President also disclosed that MPs allegedly received Ksh.10 million each to facilitate the passing of the Anti-Money Laundering law, further illustrating the depth of the problem.
Ruto emphasized that soko huru is undermining devolution by diverting resources meant for grassroots development. He stressed that devolution should directly benefit citizens, not be hijacked by corrupt practices.
“Devolution is about the people. The governor is not devolution. We must get development to the local people as much as it is practically possible,” he noted.
The Head of State assured Kenyans that his administration will take firm action to safeguard devolution and ensure that Parliament serves the people rather than private interests.
By Lucky Anyanje