The war between Deputy President William Ruto and Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has unearthed after months of silent wrangles.
According to sources , the new multi-billion shillings war between the two leaders involved a tender for the supply of the new police Uniform.
Ruto reportedly asked the CS to award the tender to other people after it was reported that National Youth Service (NYS) ran out of the required fabric.
peaking at Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, Matiang’i, however, on Tuesday, firmly stated that the uniforms would be made by NYS.
Without naming the DP directly, the CS further revealed that a certain politician wanted in on the multi-billion tender explaining that it would not happen.
“Listen to me very carefully. We will not import police uniforms, go and write another 10 headlines. We will not import police uniforms from any country. We have to promote the local textile industry,” stated Matiang’i.
The two have also had disagreements in the past including the contested Boda boda crackdown set to be implemented.
On Monday, while speaking to Kakamega residents, Ruto opposed the new crackdown explaining that even Boda Boda operation was a business and the industry players needed respect.
“There are many boda boda people in Kenya. They too are business people and I have told those concerned not to harass boda boda people,” stated Ruto.
In 2016, the war between Ruto and the then Education CS turned vicious after Matiang’i had appointed a new Vice Chancellor, Laban Ayiro, for the institution.
Ruto’s allies led by two Governors stormed the institution demanding that the CS hire Prof Isaac Kosgey.
The two have been engaged in serious fighting, which has been kept out of the public eye for months, and those aware of it yesterday told the Star that the battle is spiralling out of control.
According to multiple sources, the fights have involved multi-billion-shilling tenders being pushed by Ruto and his associates, which Matiang’i has refused to approve.
The DP’s spokesman, David Mugonyi, when contacted yesterday evening for a response about the tender row, responded furiously,”That’s nonsense.”
Matiang’i is known to be very close to President Uhuru Kenyatta and has his own presidential ambitions.
The latest incident occurred this week when the DP is reported to have asked the Interior CS to award a tender for the supply of police uniforms to other people, not just the National Youth Service.
Matiang’i stood his ground, insisting yesterday that all uniforms will be made by the NYS, as directed by President Kenyatta.
Without naming names, an angry Matiang’i told off a “politician” who wanted a share in the supply of the multi-million tender to supply fabric for the new blue police uniforms. He was speaking at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development after a meeting with MPs and the boda boda task force.
“The Inspector General of Police, the PS and myself have been under pressure by some quarters, and all manner of thieves, that we should import police uniforms.
“Listen to me very carefully. We will not import police uniforms, go and write another 10 headlines. We will not import police uniforms from any country. We have to promote the local textile industry,” Matiang’i said.
The Standard yesterday reported that police have not been able to get their new uniforms because the fabric is unavailable.
But Matiang’i dismissed the claims, insisting that the government has already paid NYS Rivertext and companies in the Export Processing zones to make the uniforms.