NASA leader Raila Odinga accused Deputy President William Ruto of politicizing anti-graft efforts in 2019, demanding transparency in controversies surrounding the Arror and Kimwarer dam projects. Odinga criticized Ruto's dismissal of Sh21 billion in alleged dam project losses as a 'flat lie,' referencing President Uhuru Kenyatta's 2019 stance that accountability requires evidence rather than speculation.
Odinga questioned Ruto's authority to challenge official investigations, stating, 'If figures show Sh20 billion was stolen, don't reduce it to Sh7 billion.' He emphasized that corruption allegations should be addressed through formal channels rather than public accusations, urging individuals with information to report to the DCI instead of exploiting funerals for political gain.
The opposition leader cited international examples, including Malaysia's central bank governor and Indonesia's social affairs minister, who faced consequences for graft. Odinga criticized Kenya's political culture of collective blame, arguing that 'corruption in a department requires arresting those responsible, not balancing ethnic narratives.'
Ruto had defended the dam projects in February 2019, claiming all payments were backed by bank guarantees and rejecting claims of financial loss. His remarks followed the Judiciary's annual report release, which highlighted ongoing scrutiny of the projects.
