The name of the Deputy President William Ruto has been adversely mentioned in the Ksh40 billion botched firearm deal that led to arrest of Former Sports CS Rashid Echesa and his group of men.
With the DP admitting that Echesa and his group of players in the alleged con game visited his office for a record 23 minutes, many have speculated that Ruto might have been part of the scandal.
However, it emerged on Tuesday that the DP never met Echesa and his team in the game despite the group demanding that they had come for meeting with Ruto.
According to communication secretary in the office of the DP, David Mugonyi, Echesa and his troops were ushered in by the security details just like any other visitors.
Mugonyi in the 12 points clarification noted that the DP did not meet Echesa and his men saying his schedule had no such appointment.
He added that Echesa did not meet any staff of the DP’s office and did not access any other room other than the waiting room.
“Mr Echesa and the men did not access any other office other than the public waiting room.
“The Deputy President was not scheduled to work from Harambee House Annex and did not visit the premises at any point.
“The Deputy President was not at the office at the time as he was working from his Karen Office before he left to attend a funeral in Murang’a County that morning. On checking his diary, there was no such an appointment,” reads in part the 12 point clarification written by Mugonyi.
The clarification came after the officers from the DCI office had raided the DP’s office to comb through the matter and to, as reported, investigate key staffs alleged to be part of the scandal.
The scandal has dented the image of the DP’s office with calls from members of the opposition demanding the DP step aside intensifying.
Nevertheless, the DP dismissed the allegations labelling them as a well-choreographed plot by his competitors to tarnish his name.
Echesa was on Monday released on Ksh1 million bail after he pleaded not guilty to fraud charges pressed against him and his three co-accused.