NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 19 – Agriculture Minister William Ruto was on Thursday grilled by detectives at the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) offices where he was required to clarify various issues on the alleged maize scandal.
Mr Ruto had been scheduled to present himself at the commission headquarters at Integrity Centre at 9am but asked to be excused to attend the fundraising event at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
He presented himself at the commission offices at 4.20pm and left at 6.02pm after recording a statement over the maize scam that has lately tainted his political career.
An official at the KACC told Capital News that the Minister was the thirteenth MP to appear before the commission over the alleged maize scandal in the country.
“I came here to confirm to the commission that indeed I instructed my Permanent Secretary to write to them to commence investigations on the alleged sale of maize from the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB),” he said.
He said he was also asked about a letter his Personal Assistant wrote to the NCPB asking them to sell maize to an unnamed individual, who was not allocated the commodity.
“I have also clarified about the letter my PA wrote. I have got nothing to hide from them,” he told reporters at the Commission’s headquarters.
The Minister said he was deeply disturbed by the maize scam and urged the anti-graft body to expedite the investigations and table the report as soon as possible.
“I have urged them to speed up these investigations so that the truth can be known,” he said.
A motion of censure against him tabled in Parliament on Wednesday by Ikolomani Member of Parliament Dr Bonny Khalwale failed to pass after only 22 MPs lent their support to the controversial motion against 119 who voted against it.
Mr Ruto said he does not hold any grudge against MPs who supported the censure motion, particularly Justice Minister Martha Karua and the motion mover Dr Khalwale.
“They are using their public offices to undermine people they consider their political competitors but I don’t hold any grudges against them,” he stated.
“I just hope they could engage in much more productive politics,” he added.
The Minister said that the recent weeks had been the most ‘difficult times of his life’.
“I have had difficult times but I am happy because majority of the Members of Parliament were able to see sense in my explanation,” he said.
