Renowned lawyer and former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Nelson Havi has accused the Executive of stripping Parliament of its independence, alleging that the legislature has been “bought off” and now dances to the tune of State House.
Speaking on Thursday, August 14, Havi said while President William Ruto was right to raise concerns about corruption in Parliament, the Head of State’s framing of the problem did not tell the full story.
“The statement by the president complaining about corruption in Parliament is correct, but the facts are alternatively presented,” Havi said.
“Our Parliament has been purchased, emasculated, and captured by the Executive. The only Parliament that was informed and independent in the recent past was the one immediately before the promulgation of the Constitution. Decisions today are made at State House.”
Havi’s remarks came a day after President Ruto, addressing the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay County on Wednesday, accused MPs of turning legislative committees into “extortion rings,” where money is demanded in exchange for favorable reports or the overlooking of corruption scandals.
“There is something happening in Parliament that must be called out,” Ruto declared. “It cannot be committees of Parliament demand to be paid for them to write reports or look the other way. This cannot continue to be business as usual.”
The president directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to move swiftly against corrupt lawmakers, warning that “there will be no sacred cows” and no interference from political quarters in prosecutions.
Ruto also took aim at the Judiciary, accusing it of shielding graft suspects through the controversial practice of anticipatory bail.
“We have an innovation only available in Kenya that allows a corrupt person to avoid arrest and prosecution. That takes us backwards,” Ruto said. “If someone has stolen public funds, how does giving them anticipatory bail help in the fight against corruption?”
Havi’s counterpoint, however, shifts the spotlight from individual acts of bribery to what he describes as a systemic erosion of legislative autonomy—an unprecedented consolidation of power within the Executive that, he argues, undermines democracy itself.
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