A war of words over corruption has rattled Kenya's political class after President William Ruto accused MPs of pocketing bribes — a bombshell claim made as a public survey revealed graft-ridden ministries.

The 2024 National Ethics and Corruption Survey paints a grim picture of daily life in Kenya, showing that citizens are forced to grease palms to access basic services — a practice so routine that most victims never bother reporting it.

Despite a decline in average bribe amounts, the practice remains entrenched, with most cases going unreported, according to the survey.

At a joint parliamentary group meeting on August 18, Ruto said lawmakers were among the officials taking bribes — sparking outrage in the legislature, but also drawing support from citizens weary of unfulfilled promises on graft.

"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," Ruto said.

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

Demands for proof

Ruto's critics say the accusations risk politicizing the fight against corruption. His supporters say the remarks expose a truth long whispered in public.

Many lawmakers were quick to push back against the allegations.

Junet Mohamed, the National Assembly's minority leader, called on the president to substantiate his claims.

"The person who is bringing the allegations must come with proof," Mohamed said. "The burden of proof belongs to the person who is coming up with allegations. He who alleges must come with proof — that's all."

Minority Whip Millie Odhiambo reinforced the demand for proof, stressing that corruption must be treated as an individual matter instead of Parliament's being tarnished as a whole.

"So if somebody is corrupt, it is an individual issue; they need to investigate members individually and tell us how they are corrupt, what were they corrupt on, and who gave them that bribery," she said.

Wilson Sossion, a former MP and governance analyst, appeared to agree with lawmakers in rejecting collective blame.

"If we speak factually and we speak truth, corruption is a way of life in all institutions in Kenya. That's a fact, and Parliament may not be an exception, and I'm not saying Parliament as an institution: Individuals can be involved, and when individuals are involved as individuals, the other members may not even know, and, when members of the executive, are involved the others may not know," he told DW.

Sossion said the president's sweeping remarks were misplaced: "I think making this allegation collective is not right. If indeed there are individuals who in person are engaged in bribes, then that is not Parliament doing it, it is individuals who are in Parliament."

Though graft can feel pervasive, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Chair Bishop David Oginde said, most Kenyans remain honest.

"So what we are saying is, as a nation, we have got to that place where corruption has become a natural thing, it has become like a normal thing and even as ordinary citizens we seem to celebrate the corrupt, we seem to celebrate people whose wealth we cannot explain how they came about with this," he said.

Oginde pointed to the survey's finding that nearly 70% of Kenyans had not engaged in bribes, noting that, "there is a perception that Kenyans are corrupt, but, if you look at the majority of Kenyans, we are not corrupt, and that's why I think people resonate with the idea of fight against corruption because they can see that there are a few people."

Public divided on Ruto's stance

On the streets of Kenya's capital, Nairobi, people expressed mixed reactions to the president's comments.

Mathew Wafula said the president's sharp rhetoric was a change from the consultative tone he had once promised.

"The departure by his excellency, the president, from being a consultative and a participatory leader to sustained attacks on Parliament, is raising many questions," he said.

Others told DW that strong action is overdue. Maxwell Oloo said corruption must be met with consequences. "Those found guilty of corruption should be detained, and the rule of law should take action, and the president has all those commands," he said.

Jeff Mwendwa said Ruto himself had questions to answer. "I don't see how the president should blame the MPs on being corrupt, when he himself is part of the corruption," he said.

Kenya loses billions of shillings each year to corruption, money that economists say could otherwise fund health care, education and infrastructure.

The African Development Bank estimates that Kenya's economy bleeds about $1.5 billion (€1.3 billion) annually from graft and illicit financial flows.

Systemic failures cloud reforms

Analysts say the challenge is not a lack of laws, but weak enforcement and limited political will. Kenya has enacted the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and the Bribery Act, yet convictions remain rare and high-profile scandals often end without accountability.

Sheila Olang, a political economist and commentator, argued that systemic failure lies at the heart of Kenya's corruption crisis.

"Where is the systemic response to this? It's not about holding a microphone and having a populist position. It's about saying, systemically speaking, this is where the issues are, and systemically speaking, this is where the response goes," she said.

Frustrated by what she described as a culture of cover-ups, she added, "we have a tendency of sweeping things under the rug. But you do that with the people who don't forget. We have the internet, we have our phones, and we don't have jobs. So the only thing we can do is keep you up to account or keep you to task with what you're supposed to do. So where is the plan? What is the plan here?"

Path to accountability

Civil society groups and experts point to digital service delivery as a constructive path forward.

Some say that reducing face-to-face interactions between citizens and officials through e-government systems can limit opportunities for bribes. Others also suggest that expanding whistle-blower protections and strengthening judicial independence are also seen as essential steps.

Public pressure is growing for reforms, with activists arguing that consistent enforcement and transparency are the only ways to rebuild trust.

For many Kenyans, the test will be whether those in power, including members of parliament, are held to the same standards as ordinary citizens.

Edited by: Keith Walker