Senator James Orengo has demanded the Directorate of Criminal Intelligence (DCI) summon Deputy President William Ruto to provide testimony about the Sh21 billion Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal, alleging discrepancies in official accounts of the funds.
Orengo, who serves as Senate minority leader and a senior counsel, made the call during an ODM party campaign event in Sega town ahead of the Ugenya Parliamentary by-election. He argued that Ruto possesses critical information to aid the Department of Public Prosecutions in recovering misappropriated public resources.
Ruto has consistently denied allegations of corruption, but his claim that only Sh7 billion remains unaccounted for contradicted statements from Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich and DCI Kinoti, who confirmed the initial Sh21 billion figure. Orengo criticized this inconsistency, suggesting potential irregularities in the matter.
The senator emphasized that no individual, including Ruto, is exempt from legal scrutiny, urging the DCI to act decisively. "The conflicting narratives between Ruto and official sources indicate underlying issues that require investigation," Orengo stated.
African Union High Representative on Infrastructure Raila Amolo Odinga has also targeted Ruto, accusing his associates of inflating infrastructure project costs. During the 6th Devolution Conference, Raila questioned how Ruto could assert no funds were lost while acknowledging Sh7 billion in unresolved matters.
Meanwhile, Ruto's allies allege President Uhuru Kenyatta is colluding with Raila to obstruct Ruto's political ambitions under the guise of anti-graft efforts. The scandal continues to dominate public discourse, with calls for transparency intensifying.
