National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed has criticised banks for demanding explanations from customers withdrawing large sums, insisting no law bars anyone from accessing their money.
He accused financial institutions of acting outside the law by forcing depositors to justify withdrawals, arguing only Parliament has the authority to regulate banking transactions.
“Even now, those people who are being asked questions in the banks when you are withdrawing over a million should ignore them. There is no law that bars anybody from withdrawing. You don’t have to explain anything to withdraw your money,” Mohamed told the House on Tuesday, August 19.
He recalled a past attempt by the Central Bank governor to limit deposits and withdrawals through a circular, which MPs rejected for lacking the force of law.
“This is a warning to the executive. The only body the Constitution has given powers to make laws is Parliament. If you want to enforce anything, bring it to Parliament. That is our work, that is our business, and that is why we are here,” Mohamed added.
Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo urged the House to summon senior government officials over President William Ruto’s claims that some legislators pocketed Sh10 million to pass an anti-money laundering law.
“I want the Powers and Privileges Committee to summon the president, or if not the president, the Head of Public Service and the Secretary to the Cabinet to explain these allegations because we don’t know how to protect ourselves out there,” Omollo observed.
Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed warned that MPs were under pressure.
“It cannot be that MPs are suffering with no money. Kama mtu anataka kuenda chini na sisi mimi nitaenda na yeye kwanza,” she noted.
Ruto had accused lawmakers of enabling corruption during a joint Parliamentary Group meeting in Karen, Nairobi, on Monday, August 18, attended by Kenya Kwanza, part of Azimio, Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
“Let me ask you, MPs seated here. Do you, for example, know that a few members of your committee collected Sh10 million so that you could pass that law on anti-money laundering? Yes, some people are destroying the credibility of Parliament,” Ruto argued.
His remarks came even as he formed a multi-agency team to spearhead the war on corruption.
The team, chaired by the Executive Office of the President and comprising members from 11 state institutions, aims to enhance collaboration, intelligence sharing, and asset recovery.
The agency brings together the Attorney General’s office as secretary, National Intelligence Service, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Financial Reporting Centre, Asset Recovery Agency, Kenya Revenue Authority, Central Bank of Kenya and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority. Other agencies may be co-opted when necessary.
“Independent institutions must up their game, pull up their socks and match up to the expectations of the people of Kenya,” Ruto declared, warning that corruption has bled the country of resources and public trust.
In response, Senate Accounts Committee Chairperson Moses Kajwang urged House speakers to summon the president to provide evidence. He noted Article 125 of the Constitution gives Parliament and its committees the power to summon any person to provide information.
Kajwang, who chaired a session at Bunge Towers on Tuesday, was joined by senators Jones Mwaruma, Edwin Sifuna, Enock Wambua and Samson Cherargei.
