Kenya’s politics continues to draw attention for all the wrong reasons, with new revelations once again exposing the depth of corruption that influences decisions in Parliament.
Former State House Senior Advisor Moses Kuria has spoken openly about how money changed hands to shape the political direction of the country.
His account paints a disturbing picture of how public funds were allegedly used to manipulate leadership positions, undermining the democratic process and leaving citizens questioning whether their representatives act in the interest of the people or personal gain.
Kuria revealed that in the 12th Parliament, Members of Parliament were each given Ksh100,000 by the Uhuru Kenyatta administration to support the removal of Aden Duale as Majority Leader.
Duale, who represented Garissa Township, had increasingly leaned toward William Ruto at the time, making him a target of the ruling side.
Kuria says the cash inducements were not hidden or whispered about in secret meetings, but openly practiced in Parliament’s corridors of power.
He went as far as waving the money he received inside the chamber, an act he claims is recorded on Hansard, the official parliamentary record.
According to him, the money was meant to guarantee support for Amos Kimunya, who eventually replaced Duale.
This was not the first time Kuria spoke about the matter. Back in 2021, he told the BBC that MPs had been “facilitated” to back Duale’s removal, but his latest comments on live television have reignited the discussion at a time when corruption in Parliament is once again under the spotlight.
The ouster of Duale was part of a wider purge within Jubilee Party, where pro-Uhuru allies sidelined Ruto supporters.
But Kuria’s admission suggests that loyalty to principle played little role. Instead, many MPs were swayed by cash handouts, a worrying sign of how fragile Kenya’s democratic institutions can be.
The timing of his revelations adds weight to President William Ruto’s current push against corruption in Parliament.
Just recently, the President warned lawmakers that bribery in committees would not be tolerated, promising arrests and prosecutions. His remarks triggered an immediate backlash from MPs, with committees suspending activities in protest.
This clash between the executive and the legislature highlights how sensitive the issue of corruption remains, and how deeply it affects the functioning of government.
Kuria’s comments now provide a window into how systemic and normalized bribery has become. If MPs could accept Ksh100,000 to remove a Majority Leader, it raises the question of what other decisions may have been bought, from approving budgets to passing laws that directly impact the lives of citizens.
For ordinary Kenyans, this revelation only fuels the perception that political decisions are not made in the spirit of service but in pursuit of personal enrichment.
The shadow cast by these claims also touches on Uhuru Kenyatta’s legacy, suggesting that his administration may have relied on questionable methods to maintain control in Parliament. At the same time, it offers President Ruto a chance to show whether his anti-corruption stance is genuine or just political theater.
What is clear is that Kuria’s frank admission has reopened a difficult conversation about the health of Kenya’s democracy. It challenges both past and present leaders to prove that Parliament can rise above the lure of money and stand for integrity, transparency, and accountability.
