Take responsibility for NYS scandal, DP Ruto tells Waiguru

Deputy President William Ruto has linked former Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru to the National Youth Service (NYS) scandal, saying she should take responsibility for the fraudulent activities that led to the loss of Ksh1.8 billion at the NYS.

The deputy president linked Waiguru to businesswoman Josephine Kabura, who is accused of fraudulently receiving Ksh1.67 billion in payment from NYS for irregularly acquired tenders.

“If a hairdresser (Ms Kabura) registered 20 companies and got contracts and was paid millions of shillings whish she carried in bags and sacks like potatoes why is she (Waiguru) telling us stories…please give us a break,” said Ruto.

“It is time for those who were involved in the scandal to take responsibility instead of giving us long lectures on how we are tempering with investigations,” he said.

The DP said that Jubilee government will stand firm against any acts of corruption saying action will be taken against anyone found culpable of stealing taxpayers’ money.

“The masterminds if the NYS scandal cannot be cat walking around when we all know that money was lost. As Jubilee, we will take action against anyone found culpable of stealing taxpayers’ money.”

“That money is intended for the construction of railways and roads , connecting Kenyans to electricity and paying examination fees for KCPE and KCSE candidates, and not , someone’s’ pocket,” he stated.

“We will not mince our words on dealing head-on with matters of theft of public money. We have played our part and it is time everybody else, including the EACC, to play their part.”

In a hard-hitting response, Waiguru called on the deputy president to provide evidence that links her to the scandal before investigating agencies instead of resorting to public exchanges.

“I, like many Kenyans, are curious about what, regarding my submissions, has made the Deputy President and his close allies so uncomfortable that they have to comment on this matter in public gatherings,” read Waiguru’s statement.

“All I did is appear before the PAC after I was summoned and gave my version of events supported by facts and evidence. If the Deputy President or Duale have facts to assist in this or any other investigation the appropriate thing to do would be to appear before the EACC, CID, or PAC like I and other witnesses did and present the evidence,” she said.

Waiguru stated that she had no interest in engaging in public exchanges with DP Ruto on the matter since it was being handled by government agencies, noting that doing so would be against the standing orders and can be construed as politicising an ongoing inquiry with the aim of subverting the process.