Cherargei claims corruption is Kenyan culture, it cannot be fought in 3 years
By Luke Oluoch, September 10, 2025Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei has claimed that the corruption menace has been with Kenyans for the past six decades and cannot be fixed in three years.
Speaking during a live interview on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the senator decried how the vice remains ingrained in the country through different names like “lobbying’ and ‘ten per cent”.
He jokingly stated that the country should even consider subjecting the proceeds of graft to tax.
“The fight against corruption cannot be fixed in three years. This is a culture that has lived with us for sixty years. Corruption is everywhere; I even think as a country we should consider taxing its proceeds,” he stated.
The senator, who is tasked with ensuring accountability and transparency through his oversight role, further faulted the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which he termed a major bottleneck in the fight against the vice.
EACC’s role
“I am happy that for the first time in the history of the country, President Ruto has openly spoken about the fight against the vice. He has even called out various government agencies. The problem is the constitution. We have appropriated necessary resources to the EACC and DPP, but they have been fumbling over cases,” he added.
His sentiments come amid a spirited national campaign against the vice spearheaded by President William Ruto. Ruto kicked off the fight in Homa Bay County during the 2025 devolution Conference on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
He stated that the time had come for the country to face and redress the menace while demanding an immediate crackdown on government agencies and individuals perpetrating the vice.
Ruto’s anti-graft stance
“EACC must take up their role seriously. I have made it clear that there will be no sacred cow or telephone call from above to stop anybody from being prosecuted in matters of corruption. All agencies must come together to deal with the problem of corruption and ensure resources are used as intended by the people of Kenya,” he stated.
He doubled down on the matter during the Kenya Kwanza–ODM PG in Karen on Monday, August 18, 2025, this time accusing some MPs of pocketing Ksh10 million to facilitate the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering Bill.
MPs fight back.
The move, however, seemed to open a Pandora’s box of sorts, as MPs rose up in arms fighting over the accusations.
The legislators demanded that Ruto either substantiate his claims by producing evidence and prosecuting the individuals concerned or issue an apology to parliament.