Raila is Being Bankrolled By Covid-19 Billionaires, Ruto Says

Deputy President William Ruto has claimed that his main competitor in the August 9th presidential election Raila Odinga is being funded by Covid-19 billionaires.

Ruto, who is making his first attempt at the presidency, said Odinga and the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition party have no moral authority to lecture others on how to fight corruption yet they are beneficiaries of looted public funds and hostages of State capture.

The Covid-19 billionaires scandal emerged at the height of the pandemic where some influential individuals are said to have pocketed over Sh7.8 billion through irregular procurement at Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa).

"What moral authority do you have to give us lectures on corruption when the whole of your campaign is funded by corruption?" Ruto posed during a campaign rally in Ruiru, Kiambu County.

"You are lecturing me about corruption, yet your campaign is funded by money obtained from the laundry, cleaning people who have stolen money from the counties and all over the place. You people are hostages of state capture, the worst form of corruption.”

While dismissing claims by his opponents that he is not committed to fighting the vice if elected president, Ruto said his administration will give State institutions tasked with fighting graft independence to do their work through funding and new laws.

At the same time, Ruto hit out at Odinga for attacking and discrediting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the forthcoming elections, saying that the Azimio presidential flagbearer should concentrate on presidential campaigns.