A faction of Senators has taken a firm stance against the leadership of both Houses of Parliament. At the heart of the conflict are explosive claims by President William Ruto, who has alleged that parliamentary committees have become "dens of extortion and rent-seeking," where government officials are being bribed. The Senators, particularly members of the influential Senate Public Accounts Committee, are now demanding that Speakers Amason Kingi and Moses Wetangula take decisive action. Their message is clear and unequivocal: summon the President to substantiate his claims, or face impeachment proceedings.
This is more than a mere political squabble but a constitutional and institutional showdown. The Senators are arguing that the Speakers have a fundamental duty to defend the honor and integrity of Parliament, which they believe has been tarnished by the President's public remarks. They feel that the silence from the leadership is a failure to protect the institution. Under Article 125 of the Constitution, parliamentary committees have the power to summon any individual, including the Head of State, to appear before them to provide evidence or information. The Senators are leveraging this constitutional power as their primary weapon in this high-stakes battle.
The ultimatum signals a deep-seated frustration and a powerful assertion of legislative independence. It suggests that a segment of the Senate is unwilling to accept the President's claims without due process and accountability. The Senators' warning that the Speakers are walking a "very dangerous path" and could become "casualties" of the situation if they fail to act is a direct and forceful challenge to their authority. It underscores the growing tension between the executive and legislative branches of government, as Parliament seeks to assert its role as a check on executive power.
