Kenya Kwanza presidential flag bearer William Ruto has promised to revive the construction of Arror and Kimwarer dams if elected president.
The scandal-laden dams project, saw billions of shillings lost after an Italian firm was paid for work that was not done.
During his campaign rally in Elgeyo-Marakwet county on Monday, July 25, DP William faulted the stalled projects on what he called political conman ship. He further added that his administration will get back to the project a day after the August 9 polls.
“We owe you water, the people of Elgeyo Marakwet. We stood on this very ground with my friend Uhuru Kenyatta and promised that we would build the Arror and Kimwarer dams but unfortunately, thugs and political con-men stopped that plan,” Ruto stated.
“God willing, on August 10, that project is going to resume because you have a right to access clean water… What happened was conman ship which we don’t accept. We are embarking on that this year when we form the next government,” he added.
Nonetheless, President Uhuru Kenyatta in September 2019 cancelled the Arror and Kimwarer dams project. This was after investigations found them to have been overpriced and neither technically nor financially viable.
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The Arror, Kimwarer dams project fraud case involved the former Treasury CS Henry Rotich, his PS Kamau Thugge alongside four others.
The suspects were charged with several counts of corruption, including conspiracy to defraud and abuse of office, which resulted in the loss of Ksh.63 billion in 2019.
Moreover, the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions had initially charged 24 individuals in relation to the scandal but has since terminated charges against 15.
Likewise, Raila Odinga is among those who have accused William Ruto and his allies of halting the construction of the project following the scandal.
However, the deputy president and his allies have on several occasions come out to deny the accusations levelled against him regarding the project.
Similarly, DPP Noordin Haji last week said there is no evidence linking DP Ruto to the Arror and Kimwarer dams case.
According to Haji the Kimwarer case file from investigative agencies does not include DP Ruto’s name.
However, Haji noted that the ODPP is pursuing the case to see its conclusion.
