A prominent Kenyan lawyer has accused members of parliament of betraying the public by passing controversial bills without proper debate, saying President William Ruto cannot shoulder all the blame.

High Court Advocate Harrison Kinyanjui, speaking on a local television interview on Wednesday, said lawmakers had failed in their duty to represent Kenyans and hold the executive to account.

“MPs are the ones who pass those bills. The President cannot sit and debate those laws,” Kinyanjui said. “When members fail to attend sessions or to challenge flawed legislation, they short-change the Kenyan people — whether by default or design.”

His comments come amid growing criticism of the 13th Parliament, accused by some of acting as a rubber stamp for the executive.

“A Betrayal of Trust”

Kinyanjui said the behaviour of many legislators suggested misplaced loyalty.

“When MPs fail to challenge bills from the executive, what are they doing to the Kenyan people? That is a betrayal of trust,” he said. “Whose allegiance do they hold — their leaders’ or the people’s?”

The lawyer’s remarks followed weeks of public outcry over the passage of contentious legislation, including the Finance Bill 2024, and recent impeachment proceedings against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Allegations of Corruption

Parliament has come under renewed scrutiny following President Ruto’s own claims that sections of MPs were involved in corruption linked to the passage of certain bills.

Kinyanjui said such revelations painted a grim picture of Kenya’s legislative independence.

“We have to ask if MPs have the spine to challenge the executive,” he said. “If they continue to prioritise political loyalty over public duty, the country’s democracy will keep eroding.”

He warned that without structural and ethical reform within Parliament, future legislation would continue to serve political expedience rather than the interests of Kenyans.

“These people will continue passing laws as they did with the 2024 Finance Bill,” Kinyanjui added. “And in doing so, they’re digging their own graves.”

As public trust in Parliament wanes, the lawyer’s comments echo a broader sentiment — that Kenya’s democracy faces its biggest test not from the presidency, but from a Parliament unwilling to stand its ground.