CITIZEN TV INTERVIEW: Things William Ruto denied or changed tune
April 10, 2019
6 min read
Deputy President, William Ruto, on Tuesday opened the lid on a number of key issues that have been the subject of public discourse for some time now.
Ruto was appearing exclusively on Citizen Television‘s News Night show with Hussein Mohammed.
He stunned the country with claims that ODM party leader, Raila Odinga, had approached him prior to his ‘handshake’ with President Uhuru Kenyatta but he declined “I did not believe that he was doing this in good faith”.
DP William Ruto: Before Raila Odinga engaged the President on the ‘handshake’, he engaged me, 4 times, but I declined.
All engagements within Jubilee have to start with the President #NewsNight pic.twitter.com/DjAdo9DUuJ
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 9, 2019
Further, the DP blamed the media for narratives that have twisted reality about what is going on in the country.
In characteristic fashion, typical of most Kenyan politicians, the country’s “deputy CEO” denied he felt targeted in the war on corruption and dismissed of Jubilee Party cracks, among other issues. He also denied there was any outfit called ‘Tangatanga’.
Is there anything else the DP denied or contradicted what is already in the public domain? Here, Kurunzi breaks down the key highlights of his interview which took place at his official Karen residence.
1. Corruption can hinder him from ascending to presidency and he carries money in sacks
The DP, who has been under the spotlight over his stand on the fight in the graft said there is no leader who can be stopped from working due to corruption. When asked whether it would impede his ambition, he simply replied “no”, further dismissing investigations that KSh21 billion had been lost in the Arror and Kimwarer dam projects.
“You want to tell me, that we can lose 21 B in one transaction: Is that a gov't we are running or a casino? You want me to sit & allow that kind of lie to continue? I'm the DP. I owe it to Kenyans to set the record straight” ~ DP Ruto on Arror & Kimwarer dams#NewsNight pic.twitter.com/tGChhEWJEa
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 9, 2019
” When you see politicians who are not witnesses, not investigators neither are they lawyers all over suddenly talking about who is corrupt then as DP I have to come in,” he said.
“From where I sit as Deputy President, if I find a false narrative in the media it would be irresponsible of me not to correct it.”
2. Kenya can lose KSh21 billion in dams project
He has been heard in public saying the government had not lost any money in the Arror and Kimwarer dam projects, arguing “the money in question is only KSh7 billion.
He reiterated this fact saying the media was lying about the investigations into the scam. He further denied he had attempted to undermine government agencies through his remarks.
“You want me to sit and allow that kind of lie to continue? I am the Deputy President. I owe it to Kenyans to set the record straight,” he said.
“You want to tell me that we can loose KSh21 billion in one transaction; is that a government we are running or a casino?” he posed.
“You want to tell me, that we can lose 21 B in one transaction: Is that a gov't we are running or a casino? You want me to sit & allow that kind of lie to continue? I'm the DP. I owe it to Kenyans to set the record straight” ~ DP Ruto on Arror & Kimwarer dams#NewsNight pic.twitter.com/tGChhEWJEa
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 9, 2019
3. He feels targeted in the war against corruption
While politicians well known to be his close allies and openly supported his presidential ambitions have been saying their man is the target, DP Ruto rubbished the “allies” talk.
He says politicians do not speak for him and he does not feel he has been unfairly targeted in the purge on graft.
“Many people have accused me of all manner of things. These accusations are not new,” he quipped.
“The war on corruption is a war about integrity […] We must take this war to its logical conclusion on the basis of the law.”
Hussein: Do you feel ‘targeted’?
DP William Ruto: I do not feel ‘targeted’. We must be objective in the fight against corruption #NewsNight pic.twitter.com/PYR8bwKI2j
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 9, 2019
4. Jubilee Party is divisions, Tangatanga-Kieleweke factions
It is in the public that there exist cracks in the ruling party, with different political players aligning themselves to the different factions.
The DP denies JP was facing divisions and maintains those fanning divisions are people who “wanted to rig elections but failed”.
According to him, it is David Murathe (former vice chairman) who has teamed up with a few ODM members and disgruntled Jubilee nominated legislators to form “the stop Ruto movement”.
“Jubilee is a united party. There is a small section of people ‘kitaeleweka or something’ hanging out with NASA. That is all that is there” ~ DP Ruto #NewsNight pic.twitter.com/OkqVliVycm
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 9, 2019
He takes offence at those who interpreted the president’s ‘Tangatanga’ remark negatively, saying the Head of State was “quoted out of context” in what he was saying in that regard.
https://twitter.com/citizentvkenya/status/111570390419543889?s=19
5. He supported, celebrated winners of Ugenya and Embakasi South mini-polls
Ruto appeared to celebrate Julius Mawathe and David Ochieng wins in Embakasi East and Ugenya constituencies after last week’s by-elections through social media.
But he took a turn around during the interview, denying any support for the duo whose victories were considered as a win for Ruto against Odinga.
Ruto’s ” allies” had declared their support for Mawathe, campaigning for the Wiper man after Jubilee withdrew from the contest.
|On By-Elections|
Hussein: Who is the ‘hustler nation’?
DP William Ruto: These are people who chase their dreams every day#NewsNight pic.twitter.com/bRoARXlFi0
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) April 9, 2019
6. Source of wealth, his business and net worth
The DP declared “every coin that I have is accounted for” but could not reveal the source of his wealth or what business he does.
“I am not going to sit here and talk about my children or my family,” he told Hussein Mohammed on the question of his net worth.
7. Stadia construction and KSh50 million for Harambee Stars
In 2013, the Jubilee Coalition had promised to deliver five world-class Staci in the country. They did not deliver.
Come 2017, the deputy President; during the launch of the Jubilee manifesto at Kasarani, spoke how all was on course for nine stadia to be completed within nine months.
Kenya lost the hosting rights for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) to Morocco for lack of stadia and to date Nyayo Stadium is yet to he complete.
A recent inspection team by a parliamentary committee was told it will be done in another six months.
Ruto changed tone and said: “We are now on course after going through some challenges. We spent KSh15 billion on a repeat election which was not in our plans.
” But now we have mobilised the money through the Sports, Arts and Culture that has already raised KSh2.1 billion towards that.”
Ruto also changed tune on his pledge to give Harambee Stars KSh50 million if they beat Ethiopia in the AFCON 2019 qualifiers.
After several months of questions, the DP said the money was to be given by the government and had been released by the ministry.
PHOTOS/VIDEOS/CITIZENTVKENYA
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