Sunday March 10, 2019
Jacob Onyango
- Ruto said repeating a lie several times would not make it the truth
- He warned the investigative agencies against witch-hunt in war against corruption
- He was reacting to a statement issued earlier by DPP Haji indicating billions could have been lost in dams projects
Hours after the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Noordin Haji, confirmed KSh 21 billion meant for construction of Arror and Kimwarer dams could have been misappropriated, Deputy President William Ruto who had earlier refuted similar claims has come out to reaffirm his stand.
Ruto insisted no money was stolen as insinuated by the investigative agencies which he accused of spreading lies and propaganda in the name of fighting corruption.
Deputy President William Ruto appeared to suggest he was being targeting in the ongoing war against corruption as he dismissed reports that money meant for construction of dams was stolen. Photo:TUKO. Source: Original
The DP who was speaking in Mombasa county on Saturday, March 9, also warned the investigative agencies against what he termed as political witch-hunt and targeting of individuals in the ongoing anti-graft war.
"We must leave out propaganda and falsehood in fight against corruption. Repeating a lie will not make it the truth," Ruto said in response to a statement issued earlier by the DPP regarding the ongoing probe into the multi-billion Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal.
In his statement, Haji noted the government could have lost billions of shillings as a result of alleged manipulation of the tendering process and payments made for construction of several dams including the now controversial Arror and Kimwarer projects in Elgeyo-Marakwet county and by extension Itare Dam and many other similar projects.
"The team has since embarked on the exercise (investigations) and a substantial number of persons have already been summoned by and have recorded statements with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations," the DPP's statement read.
The Director of Public Prosecution, Noordin Haji, confirmed billions of shillings meant for construction of dams could have been misappropriated. Photo: ODPP. Source:
Haji clarified the high voltage graft probe had been expanded to include a number of other mega dam projects that were previously not being focused on and which have also allegedly gobbled up billions of shillings with no complete project on-site.
During the investigations, the detectives, the DPP noted, would be looking at, among other things, the tendering process; the parties that bid for the tenders and those who were awarded; the absence of projects' designs and failure to secure land for the projects; and most notably the payment of close to KSh 21 billion to contractors without conducting due diligence.
Preliminary investigation by the DCI had revealed the National Treasury wired some KSh 21 billion to an Italian company, CMC di Ravenna, which was alleged to had won the tender for the construction of Arror and Kimwarer dams under questionable circumstances.
The deputy president sharply disagreed with the DCI's report alleging over KSh 20 billion paid for the two dam projects could have been siphoned by senior state officials.
The Treasury CS Henry Rotich was questioned over the controversial transaction with several other government officials and company bosses expected to shed light on the matter.