NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of orchestrating widespread bribery in Parliament, claiming the Head of State maintains files on lawmakers to ensure their loyalty.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s The Explainer on Tuesday night, Gachagua said President Ruto “has no moral authority” to speak against corruption, alleging that he has been paying Members of Parliament and Senators to advance his political and legislative agenda.
“The President has no moral authority to talk about corruption in Parliament because he is the one who has corrupted it. Ruto pays Parliament for everything he wants to happen,” Gachagua said.
He claimed MPs were paid Ksh. 200,000 each to support the controversial 2024 Finance Bill, while those who voted for his impeachment allegedly received Ksh. 500,000. Senators, he alleged, were offered as much as Ksh. 10 million apiece.
Gachagua further alleged that the President keeps records on lawmakers who accept bribes, allowing State House to politically control them.
“All those Senators and MPs who took money during my impeachment, who took money for the Finance Bill, William Ruto has a file on each one of you. For the money that you took, you have to stick with William Ruto up to the ballot,” he said.
The former DP also accused the President of using state agencies, including the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), to intimidate legislators who refuse to comply.
Describing State House as a “crime scene,” Gachagua claimed the administration openly perpetuates corruption.
“The DP is carrying money in sacks, bribing women and young people to chant ‘two terms.’ Then the President pretends he can fight corruption. Where does he start?” he asked.
