President Ruto Accuses MPs of Receiving Bribes to Block Anti-Money Laundering Law

Strategic Insights -

During a joint parliamentary group meeting with ODM and UDA legislators on August 18, President William Ruto expressed his concerns about corruption within parliamentary committees, alleging that some Members of Parliament (MPs) received bribes to vote against the anti-money laundering law. Ruto stated that he has access to raw intelligence and is aware of the corrupt dealings within the committees. The President claimed that some MPs were compromised with millions of shillings to frustrate critical laws, citing an instance where a few members of a committee allegedly collected Sh10 million to block the anti-money laundering law. Ruto also raised questions about the large sums of cash accessed by some county officials, warning that corruption erodes the credibility of Parliament and undermines public trust.

Key Takeaways:

  • President William Ruto accused a section of Members of Parliament of receiving bribes to vote against the anti-money laundering law.
  • Ruto claimed that some MPs were compromised with millions of shillings to frustrate critical laws, citing an instance where a few members of a committee allegedly collected Sh10 million.
  • The President stated that corruption is eroding the credibility of Parliament and undermining public trust.
  • County officials were questioned about accessing large sums of cash, with Ruto noting that Sh150 million is unlikely to be an individual's money.
  • Ruto vowed to arrest anyone implicated in bribery scandals, stating that "both the givers and receivers must be dealt with."
  • The President emphasized that it will no longer be about shaming corrupt officials, but rather about holding them accountable through arrest and prosecution.

Statistics:

  • Sh10 million: the alleged amount of money collected by a few members of a parliamentary committee to block the anti-money laundering law.
  • Sh150 million: the large sum of cash accessed by some county officials, which Ruto questioned where it came from.
  • August 18: the date of the joint parliamentary group meeting where Ruto made the accusations.

Sources:

  • "President Ruto accuses MPs of receiving bribes to block anti-money laundering law" (Source: Nation, August 19)