Wamuzi News Ke
Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has issued a powerful response to the rumors concerning President William Ruto’s possible involvement in a fraud network in Minnesota, an issue that has been raised in the political arena, and has brushed off the allegations as reckless and even harmful to Nairobi’s diplomatic ties.
The trouble started when the leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Rigathi Gachagua, made the very serious allegation that President Ruto and the people around him are the ones who benefited from the money made out of the fraud scandal that had gained a lot of publicity and which was based in Minnesota, United States.
Gachagua went on to say that the money was laundered in Kenya and went into real estate—among which is a mall in Eastleigh—and to some extent, the money was used to finance political campaigns. He also directly solicited the American government to avoid legal proceedings and to take extraordinary measures in order to pursue the suspects.
In a statement released on Monday, Trade CS Lee Kinyanjui branded Gachagua’s comments as politically motivated and extremely irresponsible. Kinyanjui pointed out that Gachagua was at one time President Ruto’s deputy, and he inferred that this historical association casts doubt over the timing and intent of Gachagua’s accusations.
The CS pointed out that calling for foreign meddling in Kenya’s governance disputes is a very serious act that could easily lead to international conflict, and Kinyanjui has in this regard already crossed a very dangerous line.
“How can a leader seek to throw his own country into the deep end merely to score personal revenge?” Kinyanjui said, cautioning that combining domestic political rivalry with issues of global legal significance is both unprogressive and harmful.
The CS also mentioned that such actions could be the cause of losing Kenya’s sovereignty and of the country getting into relations problems with its key bilateral partners.
Gachagua’s charges have attracted a lot of attention and harsh commentary from the world of politics, with some experts claiming that his request for the U.S. to take action is a particularly extreme case in the history of Kenyan politics.
On the other hand, the government has continued to insist that the Minnesota scam is still being investigated under U.S. law and that no trustworthy proof has been brought forth that would connect President Ruto or his close people with any illegal activities. The Kenyan authorities also reiterated their adherence to international law and due process as the only way to solve such border disputes.
