Senators have raised sharp concerns over how the image of Parliament is being dragged into a corruption scandal and are demanding immediate action from their leadership.
The controversy follows recent remarks by President William Ruto, who accused parliamentary committees of turning into dens of extortion where members of the Executive are allegedly forced to part with bribes to secure the passage of bills and motions.
These claims have unsettled many lawmakers, who feel that Parliament is being portrayed unfairly and that its leadership is failing to defend the institution.
The Senate Public Accounts Committee, chaired by Moses Kajwang, has been at the center of these discussions after being mentioned in relation to the bribery allegations.
Members of the committee insist that the issue should not be left hanging in the public domain without a formal process.
They argue that the law already provides ways of dealing with unethical conduct by legislators, and therefore President Ruto should be summoned to name the individuals he accuses of extortion.
Kajwang made it clear that the President should be given a chance to explain who exactly is involved rather than putting the entire Parliament under suspicion.
Senators have also turned their frustration toward Speaker Amason Kingi of the Senate and Speaker Moses Wetangula of the National Assembly.
They accuse the two leaders of keeping silent as the reputation of Parliament is dragged through the mud.
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua said the real weakness is not in the committees but in the House leadership, which he believes has failed to stand up to the Executive.
He argued that Parliament is being undermined, yet those at the top have chosen to remain quiet instead of defending the institution.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna went further, saying the silence of the Speakers risks weakening Parliament permanently.
He insisted that the leadership must protect the dignity of the House rather than allowing jokes and dismissive remarks to define its role.
According to him, both Majority and Minority leaders should also step up, as defending Parliament is part of their responsibility.
The most serious warning came from Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, who openly threatened impeachment motions against the two Speakers if they continue with what he called indifference.
He argued that when Parliament is attacked, the leadership must be at the forefront of defending it, not retreating into silence.
He warned that the Speakers risk being removed from office if they do not rise to the occasion.
The committee pointed out that Article 125 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to summon any person, including the President, to appear before its committees.
They believe this should be invoked so that Ruto can clarify his statements and provide evidence on those he claims are engaging in bribery.
For now, the pressure remains on Kingi and Wetangula, who must decide whether to act as demanded or face the possibility of impeachment proceedings.
This confrontation has widened the rift between the Executive and Parliament, with Senators determined not to let the reputation of their institution be tarnished without proof.
The coming days will determine whether the Speakers bow to pressure and summon the President or whether the impeachment threats from Senators gain momentum.
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