Deputy Ruto can have a sigh of relief after he was cleared of any involvement in the high-profile corruption scandal. The Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal rocked the ruling Jubilee Party mid-last year and DP Ruto’s name was dragged into it.
According to DPP Noordin Haji, the Kimwarer and Arror scandal had nothing to do with Deputy President. However, the case was about loans that were taken to the detriment of the Kenyans citizens.
“Kimwarer and Arror scandal has nothing to do with Deputy President. It is about loans that were taken to the detriment of the people of Kenya,” Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji said at an interview with K24.
For quite some time now, DP Ruto has been dragged into the scandal and accused of taking part in the alleged theft of public funds. The scandal saw the arrest of ‘ the big fish’ in the government such as the former Treasury CS Henry Rotich, PS Kamau Thugge, and 26 other government officials.
Noordin Haji said the case has taken too long to proceed since the legal processes were underway to ensure that there were no more hurdles for the persecution.
The 27 government officers involved in the case are facing 24 charges which include conspiracy to defraud and abuse of office. Former CS Henry Rotich and former PS Kamau Thugge have been charged with abuse of office.
Henry Rotich was charged with two counts of abuse of office, part of his charge sheet read; “That on April 18, 2017, being the Cabinet Secretary National Treasury and Planning, you used your office to improperly confer a benefit to CMC Di Ravenna- Itiniera joint venture by unlawfully executing a facility agreement for the funding of the development of Arror multi-purpose dam.”
On the other hand, former PS, Kamau Thugge was charged with five counts of abuse of office. One of his charges read “That on May 18, 2017, used your office improperly to confer a benefit to Intensa San Paulo S.P.A, London Branch and CMC Di Ravenna-Itiniera joint venture by unlawfully approving payment of EUR 2.5 (Sh295,877,663) for the development of the Arror multi-purpose dam.”
Rotich and other ten individuals are caused for jointly conspiring to defraud the Government loan guaranteed by an Italian Government
According to prosecution, Rotich and his counterparts allegedly entered into a commercial loan facility agreement disguising it as a government loan guaranteed by the government of Italy.
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Haji cleared the air about DP Ruto’s involvement in the scandal and said he was not after anyone at the Deputy Presiden’s officer as the treasury has always been seen as an office under the president.
With regard to the case, the DPP also acknowledged how other countries have been helpful in offering new information.
The DPP highlighted that other countries have been helpful in offering new information in order to hasten the case that has been dragging.
“Probably where they have been stashed or who was given what, that is still something that we are refining but the case has been delayed because of the many applications before the High Court,” DPP Haji explained.
