Some MPs received Sh10 million to sink anti-money laundering law – Ruto

President William Ruto/SCREENGRAB

President William Ruto has accused a section of Members of Parliament of receiving bribes to vote against the recently enacted anti-money laundering law

Speaking during a joint parliamentary group meeting with ODM and UDA legislators on Monday, August 18, Ruto said he was aware of corrupt dealings within parliamentary committees.

“There are legitimate concerns about how resources are being spent at the counties, and we cannot run away. By virtue of the position I hold today, I am a consumer of raw intelligence. I know what's going on,” he said.

The President claimed that some MPs were compromised with millions of shillings to frustrate critical laws.

“Do you, for example, know that a few members of your committee collected Sh10 million shillings so that you don’t pass that law on anti-money laundering? Did you get the money?” he asked.

Ruto also raised questions on how some county officials access large sums of cash.

“Where does somebody find Sh150 million? Is that his money? That is money that belongs to the county,” he noted.

He warned that corruption was eroding the credibility of Parliament and undermining public trust.

The President said that there are a few people within parliament who are using this spoil the name of parliament.

“There are people who are destroying the credibility of Parliament, and they are collecting money in the name of Parliament, and most of the time that money never gets to Parliament, it gets to a few people,” he said.

Ruto vowed that going forward, it will not only be about shaming them, but anyone implicated in bribery scandals would be arrested.

“We are not going to shame them. We are going to arrest them. Both the givers and receivers must be dealt with,” he stated.