Ruto maintains innocence over fraud case

Suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto during a news conference October 21, 2010, after he handed over his docket to EAC minister Hellen Sambili. He maintained his innocence over a Sh96m fraud case involving the sale of Ngong Forest land to a parastatal. PETERSON GITHAIGA
By PETER LEFTIE
Posted Thursday, October 21 2010 at 11:16

Suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto has maintained his innocence over a Sh96m fraud case involving the sale of Ngong Forest land to a parastatal.

He said he is prepared to carry his own cross.

Mr Ruto, however, said that he respected the decision of the two principals- President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga- to suspend him from Cabinet until the case is heard and determined.

Speaking for the first time since he was suspended from office, the Eldoret North MP said that even though he respected the decision, he did not agree with it.

“The decision they took is reasonable given the circumstances. I respect it but I do not necessarily agree with it because I have not been charged with any matter of corruption,” Mr Ruto said when he handed over his previous docket to the minister for East African Community Hellen Sambili, who was appointed in an acting capacity, at Jogoo House, Nairobi Thursday.

The Eldoret North MP was stood aside by President Kibaki on Tuesday after a constitutional court ruled that he will face criminal prosecution over the irregular sale of land to Kenya Pipeline Company.

"Following consultations with the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, His Excellency the President has stood aside Hon. William S. Ruto, EGH, MP from Office of Minister with immediate effect pending conclusion of the Nairobi Chief Magistrates Case No. 973 of 2004 as allowed by the Nairobi High Court Suit No. 1192/2005 (0S)," said a statement from President Kibaki's office.

Attorney General Amos Wako had advised the President and Mr Odinga that the law required Mr Ruto’s suspension until the fraud case against him is determined.

Section 62 of the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act stipulates that “a public officer who is charged with corruption or economic crime shall be suspended at half pay, with effect from the date of the charge.”

A defiant Ruto said he will soldier on with his political career despite the suspension because he had faced and overcome similar tribulations in the past.

"The decision taken did not surprise me at all. I have gone through this before. Remember I’m the only minister who has faced a censure motion in Parliament based on very wild allegations,” Mr Ruto recollected, referring to the motion of censure moved in Parliament early last year by Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale over the maize scandal.

“The so called maize scandal was a scandal that never was. The allegations were entirely false. I was vindicated at the end. After thorough investigations by various bodies including the Efficiency Monitoring Unit, the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission, the forensic audit, William Ruto was innocent but this did not stop those people from dragging me through this motion,” he lamented.

Mr Ruto declined to state whether he would accept to be reinstated to the Cabinet if he wins the case saying he will take the decision “when such time comes".

“In the meantime, I want to hit the ground running, I want to take a bit of time in the gym,” he added with a light touch.

Introducing himself to the press as the “former minister for higher education, science and technology”, Mr Ruto shrugged off questions regarding his future in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) saying “issues of political parties are minor issues".

He urged the courts to hear and determine the charges facing him quickly saying that even though he is innocent, he was prepared for any outcome.

“The pace of the case is entirely in the hands of the Judiciary but I hope they will expedite it so that it is decided one way or the other. But in my mind, I am a very innocent person,” he said.

On his political future, Mr Ruto said he would continue building alliances with key politicians in various regions to strengthen his national appeal.

He, however, added that he would not follow any politician blindly.

“I’m not a fan of powerbrokers, I’m a self made politician. If you do not have a game plan in politics, then you play other people’s games and if you play other people’s games, you don’t have control “of your political future".

“I don’t follow people, I take decisions based on what I believe in, even if I remain alone.”

Mr Ruto has been associated with the KKK Alliance bringing together himself, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta.

Judges Jeanne Gacheche, Leonard Njagi and Roseline Wendoh said that they were not convinced that any of Mr Ruto’s rights had been infringed because he was still innocent until the trial court proved otherwise.

Mr Ruto and four other persons face fraud charges over the alleged sale of a piece of land in Ngong forest to Kenya Pipeline Company Ltd for a total of Sh272 million. The minister allegedly received Sh96 million at various intervals during the alleged transaction.

In the case, the Eldoret North MP and Berke Commercial Agencies, a company associated with him, Mr Joshua Kulei, a former aide of retired president Daniel Moi, Mr Sammy Mwaita (Baringo Central MP) and two other firms were sued for allegedly obtaining money from KPC between August 6 and September 6, 2001.