Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga accused politicians of obstructing investigations into the alleged embezzlement of billions intended for Kerio Valley dam projects, urging transparency in a 2019 address.
Odinga stated that while investigations into the funds were ongoing, he rejected claims that only Sh7 billion was misappropriated, insisting the figure could be as high as Sh20 billion. "If evidence exists, let investigators complete their work," he said, dismissing attempts to minimize the scale of the theft.
The remarks directly challenged Deputy President William Ruto, who had previously asserted that no taxpayer funds were lost due to guaranteed loans. Odinga accused Ruto of deflecting blame by implying others were responsible, calling it a tactic to mislead the public.
Speaking at the Sixth Annual Devolution Conference in Kirinyaga, Odinga emphasized that corruption must be addressed to achieve national development goals. He cited examples of leaders facing consequences for corruption abroad and urged Kenyans to demand accountability.
The former PM also reiterated his proposal for a three-tier governance system through constitutional reforms, framing it as essential to combating systemic graft.
