Deputy President William Ruto has pledged to make public all contracts signed by Kenya and other countries if elected president in the upcoming elections.
Speaking during the 2022 presidential debate at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Ruto affirmed that contracts and agreements are public documents and that Kenyans have the constitutional right to access the information.
“The fact that that information is not made public is against the constitution,” said Ruto.
Ruto pointed an accusing finger at President Kenyatta for the failure to publish government contracts with China, stating that the buck stops with the president.
Asked why he has not demanded the publication of these contracts, Ruto said that as a member of the cabinet and deputy president, he has taken very firm positions on key issues including the issues of contracts.
“As DP there is so much that you can do. I have discharged those responsibilities to the best of my ability and I have made my position clear in regards to the contracts to the right offices. It is not a matter I would have wanted to take to the public for purposes of making sure that the government is functional,” he said.
“I have given advice to my boss on many issues including that particular issue. I have enumerated very well that it is the constitutional position that every contract is made public. I have given that advice to the president as is required of me but you know the buck stops with the boss.”
On his plan to manage Kenya’s public debt which currently stands at Sh8.6 trillion, Ruto said his administration will halt all borrowing immediately, put a stop to projects that are not in the government budget, and find ways of increasing revenue.
“I believe it is reckless for anybody to say we cannot pay our debts. I believe that we have what it takes to pay our debts. We have a plan as Kenya Kwanza on how to manage debt. We will first slow down on borrowing. We will put brakes on unbudgeted projects; in fact, that is the biggest source of our problem. Projects that are not within the budget, so that we cannot keep our fiscal deficit at what we have committed; 5% or 5.9%,” he said.
He added: “We need to raise our revenues. We have areas that we believe that we can raise our revenue. For example, we collect 52% of all collectible VAT, just by automation and computerization, we can actually raise 95% of all collectable VAT.”
It was shuddering to watch…
It was shuddering to watch this man lie without blinking & without a second thought. Such a smooth criminal. The only time he was not lying is when his lips were not moving. Thank you to two very competent journalists who peeled his rot, allowed him to hang himself with his own rope and exposed him for the thief, con, and scam bag that he is. In absentia RAO won the debate.
Mugikuyu you should tell us…
Mugikuyu you should tell us where you claim he lied verbatim. Don’t just soften it as smooth criminal you actually don’t have anything associated to him as crime.
You are one of the people lying every day that WSR stole Muteshi land. I have been saying her that he like many other people especially diaspora members have fell into this land sale fraud. And I have said again that it’s likely Muteshi himself was part of the scheme to defraud WSR.
He also explained the Aror saga that your minions have been trying to sell as WSR fraud. It’s a fraud that’s inclined towards yours truly the state house.
Even though he was given or questioning was evaded on his agenda, he came out as victorious.
So sad your candidates were not represented.
@ Asista:
Wewe huoni haya au…
@ Asista:
Wewe huoni haya au aibu hata kidogo kumkinga Ndugu yako Samoei? Kama huwezi kumwuuliza atuambie wote waliohusika ma kuwateketezea motoni kama “nyama choma” watoto, wazee, na akina mama 37 katika kanisa la Kiambaa huko Eldoret, nakuomba tafadhali unyamaze, na kutoweka kabisa kwenye gazeti hili.
Hayati Mpilo Tutu alisema:
“If you are silent in situations of injustice, you have taken the side of the oppressor.”
This is great!
This is great!
As the Deputy President, he…
As the Deputy President, he should have used his influence while in office to ensure contracts were published to public. The question is: Even if they were published today, what good does that do to the citizens of Kenya? What is the value?
Why should these contracts…
Why should these contracts be secretive for just a few thieves? It’s peoples money and they should be public as well as the spending!!!!
Eeehh ndio Sonora. I agree…
Eeehh ndio Sonora. I agree. Hata tukijua leo when the a** h*l* has been in government for 9 years itatusaidia vipi?