The Kirinyaga devolution conference became a battleground for corruption accusations between top leaders, as President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga exchanged sharp remarks over ongoing investigations.
Kenyatta criticized politicians who publicly accuse colleagues of corruption without cooperating with investigators, stating, "If you go to a funeral accusing your colleagues of being corrupt, the deceased cannot help you. Walk to the DCI and file an official complaint." He specifically addressed those who "go around in events talking about corruption cases" while allegedly implicating other leaders.
The tension followed allegations from Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi that Kenyatta was involved in major corruption scandals, though no formal action had been taken against him. Odinga then challenged Deputy President William Ruto's claim that only Ksh7 billion of the Ksh21 billion allocated for the Arror and Kimwarer dams had been lost, calling the assertion "unacceptable." "Who are you to tell us it was only Ksh7 billion? How did you know?" Odinga questioned, urging Ruto to clarify his stake in the project.
Ruto defended his scrutiny of the dam project during the conference's closing ceremony, comparing his role to a herdsman monitoring livestock. "As DP, I would be reckless if I didn't pay attention to numbers. The project was part of Jubilee's manifesto, so it is my duty to know," he said, rejecting accusations of personal interest.
The exchange highlighted deepening divisions within Kenya's political landscape over corruption investigations, with both leaders emphasizing transparency while accusing each other of obstructing justice.
