MPs defend Ruto over Sh28b graft scandal

Two MPs from the North Rift region have come to the defence of Deputy President William Ruto over corruption allegations involving Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).

The legislators have strongly rebuked those linking Mr Ruto to the multi-billion shilling impropriety, terming their claims malicious and meant to undermine good leadership the DP has portrayed since Jubilee coalition ascended to power.

Speaking to the Press in Eldoret, MPs Stephen Bitok (Mosop) and Julius Melly (Tinderet) said the allegations are perpetrated by Opposition leaders with an aim of tainting Ruto's name ahead of the 2017 General Election.

"The Opposition must have hatched the plan to associate the DP with this scandal. They are fond of linking him with graft to make him look corrupt but never have they substantiated their claims," said Mr Bitok.

Bitok took a swipe at Herbert Ojwang', a Nairobi-based businessman, accusing him of being out of his mind for alleging that the DP was at the centre of a flawed tendering process to establish a referral hospital in Eldoret.

Raising cost

Two weeks ago Mr Ojwang' appeared before Public Investment Committee chaired by Adan Keynan and alleged the current procurement of a Sh28 billion contract for construction of a new referral hospital in Kiplombe, Uasin Gishu County, was a scandal which would see Kenyans lose Sh11 billion.

The businessman linked Ruto to the alleged scam, alleging that the Deputy President, using his influence, changed a deal for upgrading MTRH at a cost of Sh17 billion that he was co-ordinating and in its place proposed the setting up of a new facility, raising the expenditure to Sh28 billion.