I’m open to investigation over Jacob Juma’s murder – DP Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto has said he is open to investigation over the murder of controversial businessman Jacob Juma last month.

Speaking during Citizen TV’s The Big Question show Tuesday night, Ruto said that he has no connection to Juma’s murder adding that he is ready to record a statement at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) if called upon to do so.

The Deputy President could not, however, conclusively respond to allegations made by the late Juma that he was out to assassinate him saying he (Juma) would have been better placed to answer that.

He termed allegations by Cyrus Jirongo, linking him to Juma’s murder, as baseless and as a plot by the opposition to taint his name.

“Of late, I have become a punching bag for the opposition who are keen on changing the 2017 campaign from issue-based to individual attacks,” he claimed.

“Recently, there were reports in the some newspapers that I was behind the domestic squabble between CORD co-principal Moses Wetangula and his wife and yet I have never met her.”

Ruto said that investigations into the murder of Juma are ongoing and those behind the heinous act will be brought to book.

The DP’s response was a reiteration of his utterance during the burial of former Cabinet Minister Soita Shitanda where he claimed that the allegations leveled against him by Jirongo were made out of jealousy.

“At one point, I was Jirongo’s right-hand man and he must be wondering why I have scaled up the political ladder so fast. I have always told him that politics is about scheming and he should know that these are God’s plans,” said Ruto.

The DP worked closely with Jirongo during the campaign for the re-election of Daniel Moi in 1992 as part of the Youth for KANU 92’ team.

At that time, according to Jirongo, Ruto was a lowly-placed member of the team responsible for the distribution of t-shirts and other campaign material.

@benjaminwafula