MPs have turned parliament into ‘den of sycophants’ – Ruto

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has accused some senators and MPs of turning Parliament into a “den of sycophants’, saying some lawmakers had started singing praise songs for top Jubilee government leaders to receive cash gifts in return.

Speaking in Kericho County during the unveiling of Kanu candidate Paul Sang for the March 7 Senate by-election, the governor said some had abandoned their mandate.

“The job of senators is to protect the interests of devolution and not to go and become sycophants. We are tired of some fellows who have turned the entire Parliament into a den of sycophants and now think money will buy votes. They will be shocked when the money fails to hand them a return ticket to Parliament,” he said.

He said MPs who had been bribed had turned a blind eye to the deteriorating economy, unequal distribution of government resources, corruption and youth unemployment.

“I will not be cowed into keeping quiet when I can see that there are issues that need to be addressed. County governments must be given enough funds to run programmes and not just accused of misappropriating funds,” he noted.

Governor Ruto said a wind of change was blowing across the country, with Kenyans likely to reject bribes given to them to vote for certain individuals at both levels of government.

He appealed to Kericho voters to back Mr Sang.

“Do not allow anyone to cajole or influence your judgement into voting for someone that is not your choice. We need reliable senators who will champion for devolution and push government to devolve all functions and funds,” he added.

The governor urged the government to employ more teachers and increase their salaries.

He also dismissed proposed regulations that would require those interested in being chairmen of primary school boards to have at least a diploma, saying it would lock out members of the communities around the schools.