Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has accused President William Ruto’s administration of hypocrisy in the fight against corruption, alleging that the Executive itself is the “epicenter” of graft.
Speaking on Spice FM on Thursday, August 21, Owino claimed the government is “shifting goalposts” and weaponising corruption to target opponents while protecting insiders.
“He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. But the Executive is already rotten… If the president is genuine about fighting corruption, he must start with his own house,” the MP said.
He cited alleged scandals, including the siphoning of billions through the e-Citizen platform, and questioned the construction of a church at State House.
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“How much does the president earn monthly? How much has he accumulated in three years? Is it enough to build such a church? The figures don’t add up,” said Owino.
The lawmaker also dismissed Ruto’s claim that Parliament is the “center of corruption,” insisting that bribery in the House originates from the executive. “Where does the money come from? If MPs are bribed, it is money trickling down from the Executive. Therefore, corruption starts at the presidency.”
Anti-corruption multi-agency team
He also questioned the creation of a new multi-agency team to fight corruption, arguing it undermines constitutional bodies such as the EACC and DCI.
“Why form an unconstitutional body when we already have EACC and DCI? Corruption should not just be talked about. It should be fought,” he added.
Owino further claimed the government’s anti-graft push is part of a political strategy ahead of the 2027 elections. “We are entering campaign mode. You will see handouts disguised as empowerment, but what are you empowering when mama mboga only receives 64 shillings, or 40 youths share one motorbike? This is deception,” he noted.
On his absence from a recent joint ODM–UDA parliamentary group meeting early in the week, the MP said he was neither consulted nor convinced by the agreement between the ruling coalition and his party.
“When the NADCO report and the broad-based government deal was being drafted, I was not consulted. If they didn’t consult me then, why consult me now?” he posed.
“On that day, I chose to perform my conjugal rites, which to me was more important than attending the meeting.”
Despite being branded a “rebel” within ODM, Owino maintained his loyalty to Raila Odinga, saying, “I respect Baba. He is my Party leader, and I will never fight him in public. But ODM stands for democracy. I have a democratic right to oppose any wrongdoing, whether from the government or elsewhere.”
He also urged MPs to safeguard Parliament’s independence.
We must make laws for posterity, not just to serve the executive. Oversight is not rebellion, it is our constitutional duty,” he said.
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Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has accused President William Ruto’s administration of
hypocrisy in the fight against corruption
, alleging that the Executive itself is the “epicenter” of graft.
Speaking on Spice FM on Thursday, August 21, Owino claimed the government is “shifting goalposts” and weaponising corruption to target opponents while protecting insiders.
“He who comes to equity must come with clean hands. But the Executive is already rotten… If the president is genuine about fighting corruption, he must start with his own house,” the MP said.
He cited alleged scandals, including the siphoning of billions through the e-Citizen platform, and questioned the construction of a church at State House.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
“How much does the president earn monthly? How much has he
accumulated in three years
? Is it enough to build such a church? The figures don’t add up,” said Owino.
The lawmaker also dismissed Ruto’s claim that Parliament is the “center of corruption,” insisting that bribery in the House originates from the executive. “Where does the money come from? If MPs are bribed, it is money trickling down from the Executive. Therefore, corruption starts at the presidency.”
Anti-corruption multi-agency team
He also questioned the creation of a new multi-agency team to fight corruption, arguing it undermines constitutional bodies such as the EACC and DCI.
“Why form an unconstitutional body when we already have EACC and DCI? Corruption should not just be talked about. It should be fought,” he added.
Owino further claimed the government’s anti-graft push is part of a
political strategy
ahead of the 2027 elections. “We are entering campaign mode. You will see handouts disguised as empowerment, but what are you empowering when mama mboga only receives 64 shillings, or 40 youths share one motorbike? This is deception,” he noted.
On his absence from a recent joint ODM–UDA parliamentary group meeting early in the week, the MP said he was neither consulted nor convinced by the agreement between the ruling coalition and his party.
“When the NADCO report and the broad-based government deal was being drafted, I was not consulted. If they didn’t consult me then, why consult me now?” he posed.
“On that day, I chose to perform my conjugal rites, which to me was more important than attending the meeting.”
Despite being branded a “rebel” within ODM, Owino maintained his loyalty to Raila Odinga, saying, “I respect Baba. He is my Party leader, and I will never fight him in public. But ODM stands for democracy. I have a democratic right to oppose any wrongdoing, whether from the government or elsewhere.”
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He also urged MPs to safeguard Parliament’s independence.
We must make laws for posterity, not just to serve the executive.
Oversight is not rebellion
, it is our constitutional duty,” he said.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
By Mike Kihaki