Governor Ruto denies graft claims

Bomet County Governor Isaac Ruto on Wednesday appeared before the Senate Finance Committee over alleged irregularities in the county’s expenditure in the last financial year where he denied claims of nepotism and misuse of public funds.

Mr Ruto had been accused of misusing public funds and favouring his family members in the award of county tenders, leading to the depletion of Bomet County coffers.

The financial committee, led by Mandera Senator Billow Kerrow, wants the governor to submit all records of expenditure for the 2014/2015 financial year to verify how money was spent and on what projects and to determine the contracts awarded by the county.

Ruto however argued that it was impossible to submit all the records because they are bulky, noting that a lorry would be required to ferry the documents and urged the committee to be specific on what areas they feel the money was not well spent so that he could provide the documents.

The Bomet County governor further denied claims that he threatened MCAs who had planned to petition the Senate Committee over alleged graft, saying he would sue those behind the allegations.

“The claims of fraudulent transactions are false and no money has been lost,” he reiterated.

Ruto is accused of irregularly awarding tenders to Tundo Company Limited, which is believed to belong to one of his close relatives, Erickson Company Ltd, co-owned by Mr Ruto and Ms Tiprop and Tundo Roadcon Ltd, owned by his brother.

He denied claims that he uses his relatives to win lucrative tenders in the county, stating that there is no law that prevents his relatives from operating businesses in the county.

“The existence of my relatives in the county does not mean I am using them to get tenders and contracts,” he said.

The Bomet governor declined to answer questions over the use of Sh10 million set aside to assist families of Mau Forest evictees saying he has not misused the funds and was unfairly targeted.