Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has called out Members of Parliament for allegedly being corrupt.
The former Prime Minister said a lot of money is wasted by people who should be working productively.
He called out parliament committees for summoning leaders after allegedly being corrupted in awarding tenders.
Raila claimed the committees summon leaders to appear before them and later say they are cancelling projects.
“They are only doing that because they have been funded by a contractor who lost a contract. When there is a tender, there must be a winner. Once the tender has been awarded, the contractors who lost will look for the MP or the MCA, or the contractor who was corruptly awarded,” Raila claimed.
“The MPs will then summon the minister or the PS to appear before the committee to investigate it. They make a lot of noise and have been paid by the losing contractor. The contract was not properly awarded or was cancelled, and the financial year is short."
Raila said that Parliament should be on
boarded to avoid the corruption menace.
“By the time they award the contract in September, if someone suspends it, it will be the New Year, the whole financial year is wasted, and no money will be spent. Parliament is also impeding the implementation of government projects by being corrupt,” he claimed.
Raila was speaking on Wednesday during the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay.
On Wednesday, President William Ruto called for stronger measures against corruption in Parliament, emphasising the need for accountability across all government institutions.
Speaking during the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County, Ruto said that some parliamentary committees have been demanding money from the executive, governors, and ministers.
He noted that such practices undermine accountability and public trust.
“I must say the legislature must be held to account. There are instances where money is being demanded from the executive, governors, ministers, and those seeking accountability before our houses of Parliament,” the President said.
Ruto urged National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to take decisive action to address the issue.
“Mr Speaker, it cannot continue as business as usual. Committees of Parliament should not demand payments for report writing or overlook matters within county or national government,” he said.
The President called on all Kenyans to participate in the fight against corruption, describing it as a shared societal responsibility.
