Eurobond scandal was PURE MADNESS and UTTER NONSENSE – Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto has accused the opposition led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga of spreading propaganda on alleged corruption scandals in the government.

Mr Ruto, while appearing on an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday, December 21 evening, acknowledged the fact that there has been misappropriation of public funds by government officers but dismissed the magnitude of loss portrayed by the opposition.

“Yes there is corruption and we are dealing with it, but there is also propaganda being spread by the opposition about the volumes of money lost,” noted Mr Ruto.

He singled out the alleged loss of Eurobond cash saying that not even a single cent was lost, but instead lashing out at the opposition for fabricating such a ‘huge lie’.

“By someone alleging that over Ksh 200 billion Eurobond money was stolen, that is nonsense.”

“I think this is the biggest lie ever told to Kenyans since independence.”

He wondered how the Kenyan government would collude with the American government to steal the Eurobond proceeds.

“When someone says that the Kenyan government colluded with the U.S. government to steal this Eurobond money, what type of madness and nonsense is that?”

“The whole issue about Eurobond money being stolen is utter nonsense.”

He noted that the government, through the National Treasury under Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, gave a breakdown of how the Eurobond proceeds were spent saying that the records are available for perusal.

The opposition Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leader, Raila Odinga, has on several occasions accused the government of hiding critical information on the Eurobond from the public.

Ruto on the other hand accuses Odinga and the opposition of insincerity saying that the government has nothing to hide.

“He (Raila) was invited by Rotich (Treasury CS) to his office but he refused to go,” said Ruto.

“All the explanation on the Eurobond has been given and you can Google that even without going to Mr Rotich’s office, you will find all the facts and breakdowns online.”

Asked on whether the government has been influencing investigations into corruption allegations against some of its members, the Deputy President categorically said that the Jubilee government does not interfere with any independent institution but facilitates them to conduct their mandate.

“We don’t interfere with any investigating or independent body, every government agency is free to carry out its mandate.”

“For example, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the courts, etc do not report to us or take instructions from us. All we do is facilitate them, financially or otherwise, to conduct their mandate and none has complained that we do not meet our obligations.”

On the National Youth Service (NYS) scandal where the country lost over Ksh 1.6 billion and which has been Jubilee’s biggest undoing, the Deputy President said that everybody found culpable must be held accountable.

He denied defending former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru and later turning against her.

“I defended the NYS programme then and will defend it today because it is a good programme that has helped transform thousands of young people and that is why we are expanding it even further, you heard the President say that the programme will now be taking in 30,000 young people up from 20,000 every year.”

“What I’m saying is simple; if we find people who are standing in our way in implementing the programme, we will not hesitate to get them out of office.”

“Waiguru was in charge of NYS when the theft occurred, the bodies mandated to deal with such should decide her course.”

On the issue of his personal assistant, Farouk Kibet, being named as a potential beneficiary of the NYS loot, the DP sad that it bothers him and that should Kibet be found culpable, the law will take its course.

“When it comes to public money, we have a very clear line.”

The Jubilee administration has been accused of abetting graft and protecting top ranking government officials who have been named in various scandals.