Salasya dismisses Ruto’s crackdown as damage control amid corruption concerns
By Emmanuel Rono, April 6, 2026Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya has criticised what he termed a government crackdown on corruption, describing it as superficial and incapable of addressing systemic issues.
In a statement shared on his X account on Monday, April 6, 2026, Salasya argued that recent arrests of public officials amount to “damage control” rather than meaningful reform.
“President Ruto’s alleged crackdown is just damage control, not deliverance. The arrested officials aren’t martyrs or masterminds – they’re symptoms of a cancer that starts higher,” Salasya wrote.
The outspoken lawmaker expressed concern about a repeated scenario in which a large amount of public money goes missing, adding that there is usually minimal action taken against a few individuals.
He said as a result, taxpayers end up facing the consequences.
Increasing public dissatisfaction
Salasya also warned that public dissatisfaction is steadily increasing. This could influence the political scene before the 2027 General Election.
“Kenyans deserve better than a recurring pattern where billions are lost, a few individuals are reshuffled, and the public ultimately bears the burden. This should be cleaned from the roots – ministers, cartels, and all – 2027 will be fought on the ashes of public trust. ,” Salasya said.
These remarks come following the address of President Ruto, who addressed the arrest and resignation of four senior officials linked to the Ksh4 billion substandard fuel scandal.
Ruto on crackdown
Speaking during a church service in Kilgoris on Sunday, April 5, 2026, Ruto pledged decisive action against the four individuals, stressing that their influence in the energy sector would not shield them from accountability.
Ruto noted that the arrests of Mohamed Liban, Principal Secretary for Petroleum, Joe Sang, Managing Director of the Kenya Pipeline Company, and Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, Director General of the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority, form part of a broader crackdown on corruption within critical government institutions.
Resignations of key officials
Petroleum Principal Secretary Mohamed Liban, Kenya Pipeline Company Managing Director Joe Sang, who was replaced on Friday, April 3, 2026, and Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority Director General Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria submitted their resignations after being named in the scandal.
The government signed a government-to-government fuel supply agreement in 2023 with Aramco Trading Fujairah, ADNOC Global Trading Ltd, and Emirates National Oil Company Singapore Pte Limited. It introduced the deal after severe shortages in 2022 that caused long queues at filling stations and unsafe practices.