Ruto denies allegations of corruption and land grabbing

Deputy President William Ruto during an interview with Kenyan journalists in New York City in September, 2016. PHOTO | CHARLES KIMANI | DPPS

What you need to know:

  • Speaking during an interview at the Kenya Mission to the United Nations in New York, Mr Ruto said that a majority of his rivals, including some from his Rift Valley backyard, were yet to come to terms with the fact that he had risen from poverty to hold the second most powerful position in the country.

  • The DP said he had not used any short-cuts to rise politically or to acquire wealth.

Deputy President William Ruto has denied allegations of corruption and land grabbing made against him, blaming these on critics who question his swift rise to the top national leadership.

Speaking during an interview at the Kenya Mission to the United Nations in New York, Mr Ruto said that a majority of his rivals, including some from his Rift Valley backyard, were yet to come to terms with the fact that he had risen from poverty to hold the second most powerful position in the country.

The DP said he had not used any shortcuts to rise politically or to acquire wealth.

“I understand that some people have problems with how far I have risen, politically and materially. There are people who have complained how William Ruto got here (DP),” he said.

Mr Ruto, who was responding to a question on the perception that he is a corrupt man and a land grabber, said the allegations were “a creation” of those who believe that only people from rich families can rise to higher positions in politics and have money.

“There are people who have a problem with the son of peasant rising to a higher position in the society. The reality is that any child, regardless of the status of his or her family, must have an equal chance to rise up,” he said.

Throughout his progress from a junior official in the Youth for Kanu ‘92, which campaigned for the re-election of then President Daniel Moi, to his current status as DP, Mr Ruto has been linked to various corruption and land grabbing scandals. He has been taken to court twice to answer charges of land grabbing, of which he was cleared.

CONSTANT CRITICISM

The DP has also been under constant criticism by Cord leader Raila Odinga, who has questioned the source of the millions of shillings he contributes in harambees and churches, arguing that his salary is not more than Sh1.2 million.

But Mr Ruto attributed his achievements to sheer hard work.

“I have gotten here by sheer hard work. I have never been appointed to any position in my life. Any position I have ever held has been acquired competitively,” he said.

Mr Ruto, who was born to a peasant family in Kamagut, Uasin Gishu, said he was a poster boy of a campaign to give equal opportunities to children from both the poor and rich families to succeed.

The campaign, he argued, was the only way to eradicate inequality. “Looking at William Ruto now, some people say his father was a poor man, yet he now has a lot of money. I say that is not a problem as long as you work hard. The son of a poor man, given equal opportunities, can also make money just like those from rich families,” he said.

UHURU KENYATTA

The DP also said he was heavily criticised when in 2012, he teamed up with Uhuru Kenyatta in the Jubilee coalition. He said some people wondered why he was supporting the son of a former President to become the Head of State.

“This mentality cuts both ways. When I supported Uhuru, many asked why I backed the son of a former President. But my answer was that Uhuru should not be penalised because of his father.”

Mr Ruto said he was looking forward to fighting for the presidency in 2022.

The DP was first elected Eldoret North MP in the 1997 elections and held the seat until the last elections. He served as an Assistant minister in the Moi administration and held ministerial positions in the Mwai Kibaki administration before he was sacked by Mr Odinga, then Prime Minister in the Grand Coalition government.

Mr Ruto declined to respond to a question on his relationship with Mr Odinga, arguing that he could only do so in the presence of the ODM leader.