Tense moments as Ruku and Cheptumo face grilling over controversial proposals

Ruku, who has served as the Member of Parliament for Mbeere North for the past two and a half years, has gained a reputation as a vocal government defender, often tabling radical proposals that have stirred debate and, in some cases, been rejected outright by Parliament.

At the center of the inquiry was the Assembly and Demonstrations Bill, which Ruku sponsored at the height of Gen Z-led protests. The bill seeks to impose strict regulations on public protests, including a clause that would bar protestors from carrying placards, banners, or chanting slogans that could be interpreted as inciting hatred based on culture, race, sex, language, or religion.

Committee member Junet Mohamed challenged the nominee, saying, “These rights are enshrined in the Constitution. What do you want to change?”

In response, Ruku defended the bill’s intent, stating, “The Assembly and Demonstration Bill does not limit the right to demonstrate. What it aims to do is protect those who are not participating in the protests. No life should be lost because of demonstrations; no property should be destroyed.”

The bill further proposes that any damage to property during a protest would result in all participants being held liable. Violators could face fines of up to KSh 100,000 or imprisonment of up to one year.

Ruku was also questioned over his attempt to amend the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2023—a move widely criticized by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and other observers as potentially weakening the fight against graft.

He defended the proposal, saying, “My amendments to the anti-corruption law were meant to strengthen the fight against corruption.”

However, that explanation was met with skepticism from lawmakers. Pokot South MP David Pkosing responded bluntly, “Your amendments were meant to promote corruption.”

Meanwhile, Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee Hanna Wendot Cheptumo also faced tough questions from the committee, particularly regarding her views on femicide and gender-based violence. Cheptumo, a lawyer and widow of former Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, was pressed about her proposal to educate girls as a solution to rising cases of violence against women.

“If a woman is educated, chances are they will avoid these challenges in society—including homicide,” she said.

But Committee Chair Moses Wetang’ula countered her argument, noting, “The girls who have been killed in Airbnbs are in universities and are educated.”

Cheptumo’s follow-up response sparked outrage: “Those ones are looking for money.”

Mishi Mboko, a member of the committee, condemned the remark, saying, “It is very wrong to say that those women—who were butchered, killed, and put into sacks—were murdered because they were doing that for money.”

Despite the heated exchanges, Cheptumo pledged to use her legal background to champion the rights of both men and women if confirmed, vowing to apply a balanced and rights-based approach to her work in the Gender Ministry.