Kenya’s political arena has long been tied to power, wealth, and corruption, but recent allegations have brought the issue of bribery in Parliament into sharp focus. With 349 lawmakers shaping the nation’s future, claims of cash-for-influence have become a recurring theme that refuses to fade.
How do MPs allegedly get bribed?
President William Ruto recently pointed to an extortion scheme within Parliament. Speaking during an ODM–Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Group meeting in Karen, he alleged that some senators operate under a “soko huru” arrangement, where summoned governors or officials pay to avoid tough questioning or unfavorable reports. “For example, the latest soko huru in the Senate. Under 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 said.
His remarks sparked backlash from senators who demanded he provide evidence, but the claims highlighted a troubling narrative: leniency and protection in Parliament can allegedly be bought.
Are votes in Parliament influenced by money?
Bribery allegations extend beyond committee rooms to the heart of lawmaking. Juja MP George Koimburi claimed legislators were offered Ksh.2 million each to back the 2024 Finance Bill, a move that triggered nationwide protests. Months later, during Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment saga, accusations of payouts resurfaced.
Gachagua himself told Citizen TV, “Meetings have been held in Nyahururu, meetings were also held in Kitisuru in the house of a CS, we know what was being discussed. We know the amount of money that exchanged hands. We know these things.” Reports suggested senators were offered up to Ksh.10 million to remove him, though some lawmakers insisted they rejected the bribes.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo revealed that “state agents” approached him with Ksh.4 million, adding, “This bribery in the House must stop. We are running the country through bribes.”
What do these claims mean for Kenya’s politics?
The repeated allegations suggest a culture where political loyalty and legislative outcomes can be bought, undermining public trust in governance. Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji also alleged that both houses of Parliament were compromised in passing the Finance Bill 2024 and in Gachagua’s impeachment process.
While some legislators have denied taking part, the pattern of claims reveals how deeply bribery accusations have embedded themselves in Kenya’s politics. Whether action will follow these revelations remains uncertain, but the persistence of such claims points to a larger battle between governance, accountability, and moneyed influence.
By Yockshard Enyendi