Of MPs' influence peddling in passing Bills

National Assembly Chambers during a previous session. [File, Standard] Recently, tensions within the halls of Parliament have reached a boiling point, with MPs vociferously responding to a pointed accusation from the President that they regularly dip their fingers in the jar containing our collective wealth. The President accused some MPs of accepting bribes to pass legislation, a charge that has ignited a storm of controversy and fiery exchanges. We knew these things happen but it's always good to hear it from the very top. The situation escalated when an individual MP, seemingly annoyed by the President's remarks and possibly seeking to defend his honour (if there is such a thing), made a remark that only added fuel to the fire. He claimed MPs have historically been passing Bills for the 'President', and now he is turning against them. "We passed the Finance Bill for the President; we passed the Housing levy Bill for him; we passed the Social healthcare Bill for him and now he has turned against us" moaned the legislator. Another one from Kieni took the opportunity to make his maiden speech in Parliament, almost breaking down and using an amalgamation of English words that at one point almost degenerated into a complete murder of the Queen's language, as he defended his honour and that of his fellow members. The confession however by the MP that they were passing Bills for the President, whether intentional or not, clearly shows our MPs are puppets of the Executive, something people have known all along but no one has explicitly admitted to in the past. The most sensational aspect of this saga emerged when the President alleged that an unnamed MP had received Sh150 million. The revelation sent shockwaves through the political landscape, especially since the MP in question, instead of remaining silent, decided to come out swinging - much to the delight of Kenyans who relish political duels especially when the two characters involved have dubiously acquired wealth. In a dramatic twist, Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wa, more or less admitted that he was the MP the President was referring to regarding the Sh150 million. He was quick to clarify that the 'small amount' was linked to a legal business venture-specifically, purchase of shares in a publicly traded company, which records confirmed cost nearly Sh140 million. He claimed the funds used for this transaction were largely borrowed from the MPs' Sacco, a detail many took with a pinch, nay, a whole sack of salt. His declaration raised questions about the source of the borrowed funds and the broader implications of MPs engaging in such sizeable financial transactions. The controversy touches on transparency, accountability, and the ethical conduct of the elected representatives. Were the funds indeed borrowed legally and used appropriately? Or are there deeper undercurrents of corruption and undue influence at play? As the dust settles, Kenyans were left to do some detective work. MPs serve for five years with no guarantee of a re-election and therefore, the Sacco loans tenure cannot prudently exceed five years. We can therefore assume that the legislators' Sacco lent out the Sh140 million to one of their own at the rate of 12 per cent per year. The repayment of the principal amount amounts to Sh28 million per year and a further Sh16.8 million interest (which would go down slightly on a reducing balance but that's neither here nor there) per year. That is a staggering repayment of Sh3.7 million per month. As we say in Kenya, the maths ain't mathing. You make your own deductions. The current saga reflects a fragile political environment where accusations and defences intertwine, often blurring the lines between genuine concern and political posturing. As Kenyans watch closely, one thing remains clear: transparency, honesty, and accountability must be the pillars that uphold Kenya's democracy, especially in times of crisis like now. Only then can trust be rebuilt and progress assured. The writer is communications consultant

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