Raila Odinga ROASTS William Ruto on the 28b Hospital CORRUPTION SCANDAL

Prime Minister Raila Odinga Friday slammed government efforts to shift public attention from Deputy President William Ruto, who is embroiled in a referral hospital scandal where the cost of the project was inflated by Sh11 billion. Speaking at Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, Raila said the DP needed not defend himself on Twitter.

While he was careful not to pass guilt, he censured the Jubilee administration for double-speak in the war against graft. “I do not wish to be dragged into this controversial issue of who is guilty and who is not. However, if indeed you (DP) are clean, you do not need to have a twitter hash-tag-stating the same,” said Raila, in reference the twitter hashtag #RutoIsClean. He added, “You do not have to clean yourself through twitter. People will know when you are clean. I do not wish anybody harm.”

The former Premier however declined to comment further on the allegations against the DP, which went viral on social media with Kenyans demanding action after a whistleblower accused the DP of kicking him out of the Sh17 billion deal and inflating it to Sh28 billion.

The CORD leader however, said his relationship with the President and his deputy is cordial and has nothing personal against them, only difference in opinion. He castigated the government saying the country is losing the war. “The war on corruption cannot be won merely with words. We must have proper institutions to deal with systemic issues that have affected this country over the years and slowed development,” he said

He said: “The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is the institution established by law and mandated to deal with issues of economic crime. The president cannot purport to declare war on corruption and at the same time disband the commission.” The former Prime Minister expressed disappointment that the president suspended EACC commissioners after he issued a six days executive order for state officers mentioned in the list of shame to step aside.

“How do you disband a commission and ask it to take 60 days to deal with 175 cases? This is contradiction, as the government is not taking this matter seriously. I do not know if these actions amount to fighting corruption since the commission cannot operate without substantive commissioners,” said Raila.

He added, “The question I’m putting over to the country’s leadership is to tell Kenyans where they stand in the war on corruption.”