This archive report was first published on 25 August 2021.
On August 25, 2021, Deputy President William Ruto faced questions about his relationship with Turkish businessman Harun Aydin, who was deported from Kenya on August 9, 2021, due to alleged links to terror activities and a possible money laundering ring involving prominent local politicians.
DP Ruto claimed that Aydin was a business ally seeking to invest in Uganda and that he had negotiated a loan worth Sh. 15 billion from Equity Bank on his behalf.
However, Equity Bank has denied any links with Aydin and refuted DP Ruto's claims about the loan. 'He does not operate and does not have a banking relationship neither does he have a loan with us,' Equity Bank managing director Gerald Warui told the National Assembly Finance Committee.
DP Ruto later issued an apology on behalf of the government, but it was rebuked by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, who stated that the government could not issue apologies to a man suspected of criminal activities.
