Kenyan MP Vows to Bribe Judges After Parliamentary Suspension for Corruption
Nairobi, 25 April 2026
Bumula MP Jack Wamboka’s brazen declaration that he will ‘bribe every judge in town’ following his suspension for demanding bribes from parliamentary witnesses reveals the audacious lengths some politicians will go to maintain power, highlighting Kenya’s persistent corruption challenges.
Swift Parliamentary Action Following Corruption Allegations
On 22nd April 2026, Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei announced the suspension of Bumula MP Jack Wanami Wamboka from his position as chairman of the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education [1][2]. The suspension came following a formal petition from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, citing allegations of bribery, hostility, and harassment directed at commission officers appearing before the committee [1][2]. NCIC Chairman Samuel Kobia reported that Wamboka had subjected commission officers to ‘open hostility, harassment, and demeaning treatment’ and had allegedly demanded bribes as a precondition for granting witnesses an audience or offering favourable consideration during committee proceedings [1][2].
Investigation Timeline and Parliamentary Response
The Powers and Privileges Committee, led by Ainabkoi MP Samuel Chepkonga, has been tasked with investigating the allegations against Wamboka, with a 45-day deadline to present findings by 9th June 2026 [1][2]. The Deputy Speaker directed the Minority leadership to nominate an interim committee chairman by noon on 23rd April 2026, with Luanda MP Dick Maungu subsequently installed as interim chairman on that date [1]. Deputy Speaker Shollei emphasised the need to ‘safeguard public trust in the work of the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education during the pendency of the inquiry’ [2][3]. The committee’s constitutional mandate involves examining audit reports on public investments in sectors including education, governance, justice, and law enforcement [1][2].
Defiant Response and Judicial Corruption Threats
Following his suspension, Wamboka has reportedly made shocking declarations about his intentions to circumvent the parliamentary investigation through judicial corruption. According to sources with direct knowledge of his intentions, Wamboka stated: ‘I am untouchable. I will bribe every judge in town to get my orders’ [1]. This brazen admission has sparked public outrage and raised serious concerns about the extent of corruption within Kenya’s political system. The MP’s alleged plan to corrupt the judiciary represents a direct threat to the rule of law and judicial independence [1]. Former Kenya National Union of Teachers Secretary General Wilson Sossion defended the parliamentary suspension in a television interview on 23rd April 2026, stating that ‘when a member or chair of a committee mishandles witnesses or guests of the National Assembly, it is a serious breach’ [4].
Broader Implications for Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Efforts
The Wamboka case highlights persistent challenges in Kenya’s governance structures and anti-corruption enforcement mechanisms [GPT]. The Director of Public Prosecutions, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Judicial Service Commission are reportedly considering moving faster than Parliament in response to Wamboka’s alleged actions since his suspension [1]. Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah described the Speaker’s decision as ‘Solomonic’ and emphasised that ‘it is paramount that we protect the dignity of the House and its committees by first acting here within the House ourselves’ [2]. Meanwhile, constituents in Bumula protested the suspension on 23rd April 2026, claiming it was politically motivated [1]. The controversy underscores the ongoing struggle between accountability measures and entrenched corruption within Kenya’s political establishment, with Wamboka’s defiant stance representing a particularly brazen challenge to institutional oversight mechanisms.