DP Ruto says Echesa and co-accused are ‘crooks’ who breached his security

Deputy President William Ruto now says the entry of former Sports CS Rashid Echesa and his accomplices in the Ksh.39 billion military equipment scam into his office was a breach of security.

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief of Staff Ken Osinde,  Ruto describes Echesa and his team as “crooks and cartels”, further acknowledging that the access was aided by some security officers.

“We appreciate efforts by the Director of Criminal Investigations to investigate the fraudulent access to the office of the Deputy President by crooks and cartels as well as investigations into the murder of Sergeant Kipyegon Kenei.

“The entry into the office of the Deputy President that was aided by some security officers was a breach of security,” reads the statement.

The deputy president wants the DCI to expedite investigations into the incident that occurred on February 13, 2020 and which is believed to have led to the murder of Sergeant Kipyegon Kenei who was attached at the DP’s office.

“We urge the DCI to expedite investigations and ask anyone with information to avail to the investigators,” says the DP.

CCTV footage released on Thursday by DCI George Kinoti  suggests that Kenei was part of the scam that saw Echesa  use the Office of the Deputy President and the signature of Defence Cabinet Secretary Amb. Monica Juma to allegedly cut a fraudulent multi-billion shilling deal.

Echesa and his co-accused; Daniel Otieno, Clifford Okoth, Kennedy Oyoo and Crispin Oduor, have since been charged over the Ksh.39 billion scam.

The four were accused of, among other things, attempting to obtain a total of Ksh.39,544,200,000 from a foreigner by falsely pretending that they would award him a tender by the State Department to supply military equipment.

The suspects pleaded not guilty to all counts – obtaining money by false pretences, conspiracy to commit a felony, uttering a false document. They are out on bail.