Cord behind graft claims, says William Ruto

Deputy President William Ruto with Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba and leaders from western Kenya, who paid President Uhuru Kenyatta a courtesy call at State House in Nairobi. PHOTO | PSCU 

In Summary

• DP calls accusations “mere propaganda to discredit NYS”.
• Mr Odinga says Ms Waiguru should be investigated

By NATION CORRESPONDENT
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Deputy President William Ruto has termed corruption claims against Devolution ministry as propaganda by the Opposition to derail government development agenda.

He said the claims are part of Cord’s smear campaign to discredit the National Youth Service (NYS) for “infiltrating its strongholds in Kibera and Kisumu”.

“The NYS programme is changing the face of informal settlements in Nairobi and Kisumu and that is why they are jittery. The plan has engaged youths in slums in their strongholds,” Mr Ruto said.

“Just like the claims of corruption over the standard gauge railway and the laptop project, attacks on Devolution and Planning Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru are mere propaganda to discredit NYS,” said Mr Ruto who spoke in Narok on Monday.

'HUGE BUDGET'

Opposition leader Mr Raila Odinga says Ms Waiguru should be investigated over alleged theft Sh826 million at the NYS.

However Mr Ruto termed the calls as intimidation “by people out to pull back Jubilee’s development agenda”.

“The government is keen to inspire and transform Kenyan youth. The country will only develop when our young people are fully involved,” he said.

“Youth are the catalysts we need to transform our country. To realise this, we have allocated a huge budget to NYS which will have 10,000 new recruits by September.”

The DP who was flanked by two governors and five MPs spoke during the launch of 38 kilometres tarmac by the Narok County government.

The DP said locally manufactured products will form 40 per cent of all government procurement.