This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
On October 2, 2019, Deputy President William Ruto took to his verified Twitter handle to issue a response to a report published by the Standard on Wednesday.
The report indicated that Dr Ruto, in June, launched the Sh5.3 billion Lower Nzoia irrigation project without the necessary approvals from the Water Ministry.
Water Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu told a Parliament committee investigating the project that the DP bypassed the ministry and launched the project without written communication to CS Simon Chelugui.
DP Ruto tweeted: "The launched Lower Nzoia flood mitigation and irrigation project is now 15% in progress and is meant to eliminate destructive perennial flooding and increase acreage under irrigation. I have followed this project since 2008 as minister for agriculture. Wacheni njama na siasa mbichi,"
However, the Water Ministry had halted plans to launch the project because they were yet to compensate land owners whose land would be affected by the project.
PS Irungu explained to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that there was no contact between the DP's office and his office, and that compensation is a very sensitive matter that must be handled well.
