Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has accused Deputy President William Ruto of defending corruption following allegations of Sh21 billion in mismanaged funds tied to the Arror and Kimwarer dams, according to a 2019 report by the Kenyan Daily Post.
Discrepancy in Financial Loss Estimates ¶
Joho highlighted a contradiction between the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) report, which cited Sh21 billion in losses, and Ruto’s claim that only Sh7 billion was misappropriated. The governor emphasized the significance of the discrepancy, stating, "In Kiswahili Sh7 billion is equivalent to 7,000 million."
Calls for Investigative Action ¶
Joho urged the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. He criticized Ruto for what he described as public defense of those implicated in the scandal, adding, "We as politicians should be cautious with what we say in public."
Background of the Controversy ¶
The allegations emerged after the DCI identified financial irregularities in the dam projects. Ruto’s public remarks downplaying the losses sparked backlash from Joho, who called for transparency and accountability from government officials. The Kenyan Daily Post reported the dispute in 2019, with the publication’s copyright noted as 2012.
