This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
Deputy President William Ruto has hit back at critics over his alleged involvement in the Sh5.3 billion Lower Nzoia irrigation project.
According to reports, a House team put Ruto on the spot for commissioning the project without involving the parent ministries.
The project, which aims to boost rice production and prevent destructive floods, covers Ugunja, Alego Usonga, and Budalang'i constituencies.
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.
However, Ruto has denied the claims, stating that he has been following the project since 2008, when he was the Minister for Agriculture.
“The launched lower Nzoia flood mitigation & irrigation project is now 15% in progress & is meant to eliminate destructive perennial flooding and increase acreage under irrigation,” Ruto tweeted.
“I have followed this project since 2008 as minister for agriculture. Wacheni njama na siasa mbichi,” the DP’s tweet read.
PS Irungu explained to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the ministry had halted plans to launch the project because they were yet to compensate land owners whose land would be affected by the project.
“There was no contact between the DP’s office and my office. Even my project engineer was not there. Compensation is a very sensitive matter, which we must handle well,” the PS explained.
