Veteran lawyer and Senior Counsel Paul Muite has called for a bold and uncompromising fight against corruption in Kenya, insisting that the battle must start at the very top with the President.

In a statement on his X account on Sunday, August 17, 2025, Muite said corruption is at the heart of most of Kenya’s problems.

“The fight against corruption, the root of 90% of our challenges, must start at the President without hesitation,” he said.

Muite warned that corruption does not stop at the executive level. “It is from there that it flows down to Parliament, the judiciary, and all other institutions through capture and weaponisation,” he noted.

He added that cosmetic measures will not solve the problem, calling instead for sweeping reforms.

“A complete reset is the objective,” Muite declared, urging Kenyans to reflect on the state of governance and take firm action to dismantle entrenched interests that have hijacked public institutions.

His call comes as public frustration grows over widespread graft and failing institutions, with many citizens demanding accountability and transformative leadership to restore integrity.

President William Ruto has also issued strong warnings against corruption, specifically within Parliament. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, during the official opening of the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, the President condemned parliamentary committee members who demand bribes to alter or ignore official reports.

“We cannot allow committees of Parliament to demand to be bribed in order to write reports or turn a blind eye to what is happening in either the national or county government,” Ruto said. He emphasised the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, highlighting the need for proper functioning institutions.

The President added, “If we allow corruption to thrive within oversight bodies, then we undermine the very foundation of our democracy.”

Ruto reiterated his administration’s zero-tolerance stance on graft, urging all leaders from Parliament to county assemblies—to uphold the highest ethical standards. “There is no space for individuals who want to profit from public service. Leadership is about service, not self-enrichment,” he said.

Muite’s remarks and the President’s stern warnings underline a growing national conversation on corruption, with calls for decisive action at all levels of government to restore public trust and ensure that institutions serve the people faithfully.