Corruption remains biggest threat to 2010 constitution, Ruto says

Widespread corruption at all levels of government remains the biggest threat to the 2010 Constitution, President William Ruto has cautioned.

He warned that Kenyans cannot enjoy the full fruits of the charter due to pervasive graft within the three arms of government, which has weakened institutions created by the document.

“It is a fact that corruption exists in all arms of government – the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary, and each must confront this menace with honesty and resolve,” he said on Wednesday.

He was speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, during the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution on August 27, 2010.

Recently, Ruto declared that the day would henceforth be marked annually as Katiba Day.

Present at the function were Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Chief Justice Martha Koome, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor, Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri, and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Ruto said his administration has taken steps to limit corruption loopholes and opportunities in public service by automating and digitising over 22,000 government services.

Consequently, he said revenue collection has risen sharply from KSh60 million to over KSh1 billion daily, translating to more than KSh500 billion annually.

Nonetheless, he acknowledged that rampant corruption at the Executive level alone remains alarmingly high.

“Corruption must be chased down every alley, every corridor, and every corner of the Executive by every well-meaning citizen whenever it is spotted,” he said.

He challenged Parliament and the Judiciary to boldly deal with the corruption menace within their ranks too in order to restore public trust in the institutions.

He also said Parliament, like the other two arms of government, must also confront the corruption vice.

“Shall members be counted among those who demand and enforce accountability or among those who undermine the Constitution by entrenching corruption?” he said.

Equally, he called on the Judiciary to guarantee swift, impartial, and credible justice, and confront unsettling public conversations around terms like ‘JuriPesa’.

“The Judiciary must rise to its highest calling: To cleanse itself, uphold its independence with integrity, and prove itself the true temple of justice for all Kenyans,” he said.

He said his administration is implementing transformative programmes that will breathe life into the Bill of Rights as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the Constitution.

Article 43 of the Bill of Rights guarantees every Kenyan fundamental freedoms and socio-economic rights, including the right to education, health, housing, food, water, and dignity.

To achieve this, Ruto said his government has rolled out ambitious programmes such as the universal healthcare, affordable housing, and the new student-centred higher education funding model.

At the same time, he underscored his commitment to strengthening devolution, which he said has fostered equity by distributing resources fairly and addressing historical imbalances.

Upon assuming office in 2022, he said he has accelerated the full transfer of all the 14 devolved functions to counties.

Further, he said he recently signed the County Public Finance Laws (Amendment) Act, 2023, and the County Allocation of Revenue Act, 2025, guaranteeing fairness in the distribution of national resources.

Moreover, he said his administration has further reinforced devolution through increased allocation to counties and timely disbursement of funds.

“Under the Division of Revenue Act, 2025, we have allocated an unprecedented Sh415 billion to counties, nearly Sh30 billion more than last year’s Sh387 billion,” he said.

Overall, since the birth of devolution 12 years ago, President Ruto said the National Government has transferred a total of Sh4 trillion to the counties.

Others in attendance were Governors Johnson Sakaja (Nairobi), Fatuma Achani (Kwale) and Ahmed Abdullahi (Wajir), Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, members of the diplomatic corps, among others.