The political landscape in Kenya is a masterclass in dynamic and often unpredictable alliances. So, when former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, a well-known ally of the President, publicly praised the escalating feud between the National Assembly and President William Ruto, it raised more than a few eyebrows. In a candid interview, Kuria declared that the ongoing standoff is not a crisis, but rather "a win for Kenyans," a sign that the legislature is finally shaking off the executive's "stranglehold."
Kuria’s commentary is particularly insightful given his past. Recalling his years as a Member of Parliament under the Jubilee administration, he lamented the lack of independence in the National Assembly. He claimed that former President Uhuru Kenyatta's firm control over lawmakers resulted in unchecked borrowing and government expenditures. As a member of the Budget Committee, Kuria felt that Parliament was "captured," unable to independently check the Executive's power. His personal experience gives weight to his current argument: that a fight between the two arms of government is a necessary and healthy symptom of a working democracy.
According to Kuria, the current situation, where the National Assembly is at loggerheads with the President, is proof that the yoke of executive control is finally being broken. He expressed his hope that the rift would continue for the benefit of the citizenry, as it forces both sides to operate with greater accountability and less political coercion. This is a bold and controversial stance, especially from a figure who has long been part of the ruling party's inner circle.
The friction, which prompted Kuria's comments, began with President Ruto's explosive allegations that parliamentary committees had become "dens of extortion." The President claimed that lawmakers were demanding bribes from Cabinet Secretaries to pass key bills. This triggered an uproar in the National Assembly, with MPs staging a dramatic "go-slow" by paralyzing all committee business in protest. They demanded an apology from the President and openly questioned his own record. The unprecedented act of defiance, which saw the National Assembly committees refuse to sit, highlighted the depth of the anger and frustration within the legislative body.
In this high-stakes standoff, prominent legal voices, such as former Law Society of Kenya president Nelson Havi, have urged lawmakers to take a firmer stand. Havi’s call for a potential impeachment motion against the President is a stark reminder of the constitutional powers at play and the seriousness with which this issue is being treated.
