XNEWS
Date: 27.02.2016
Page 13
Article size: 201 cm2
ColumnCM: 44.66
AVE: 0.0
Has Ruto name become synonym for scandals?
mention of DPs key political
allies in National Assembly
Majority Leader Aden Duale
by a series of scandals, with and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator
the latest Sh791 million NYS Kipchumba Murkomen.
Since coming i«tito
power
in 2013, the
Jubilee
administration has been hit
scam threatening to bring the
The two have been fierce
government to its knees.
defenders of the DP and
Some of the notable scandals
with their names appearing
include the Eurobond scam
in the sworn affidavit, it is
where Sh240 billion, is alleged now apparent why the two
to have been siphoned, the defended Waiguru.
Shi.3 trillion use in the However, this only adds to
Standard Gauge Railway scandals that have had the
project for procurement that Deputy Presidents name
was and still is shrouded in adversely mentioned. Just
secrecy, Sh22 billion botched after coming to power in May
houses showing the DPs
activities at the hotel.
The DP's name also featured
in the illegal tendering
and procurement at the
Moi Teaching and Referral
Hospital Eldoret where
the cost of renovating the
facility was inflated. He was
also named in the grabbing
of the Kenya pipeline land
in Nairobi, the grabbing of
prison land in upper hill, the
awarding of insurance cover
tender of government vehicles
to AMACO insurance, the
of 2013, Ruto was at the centre
grabbing of a neighbours land
of the direct procurement of a
rented jet at ShlOO million to
who also happened to be an
With new details of the
fly him and his entourage to
His recent activities have
NYS following a sworn
affidavit by former CS Anne
Waiguru, it is now clear that
Deputy President William
name cannot stay away from
four West African nations to
not made matters easier for
lobby against the Kenyan ICC
him either. The DP source
cases.
of income has been a matter
Jubilee MPs would later gang
of conjecture going by his
up in Parliament to shoot
spending spree on fund­
procurement of laptops for
schools and the ShlOO million
Hustler Jet saga.
down the special audit report
In a report tabled at the that had implicated among
Milimani court ia December others the now suspended
last year, it emerged that the chief of staff Marriane Kitany.
Deputy President Personal Another scandal was the
Assistant Farouk Kibet had Weston Hotel saga Ruto's
received up to Shi.5 million name featured in the grabbing
through family bank Eldoret of Langata Primary School
Branch, the same man has playground and the adjacent
been adversely mentioned plot belonging to the Kenya
by Waiguru as being at the Civil Aviation Authority
scandals.
IDP.
drives.
It is for this reasons among
others that Kenyans now
make several jokes of the
Deputy President. Kenyans
allege that when you search
the word corruption on
Google, you are assured to see
DPs name propping up. The
opposition has nick named
him as the high priest of
centre of the NYS scam with
(KCAA) where Weston
corruption.
fresh details indicating up to
Hotel stands. Later on, the
And one wonders, is it that the
DP agreed to the fact that he
stolen. However, it is not yet has shares in the hotel despite
earlier on refuting the claims.
This was after a clip emerged
aware of these dealings.
But of interest to Kenyans is the from one of the leading media
Deputy President's name can't
stay away from corruption or
is it that everyone wants to
Sh24 billion could have been
clear whether tjie DP was
link him with the same?
— Mzungu Mweupe
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya