Deputy President William Ruto on Tuesday night held an interview with Citizen TV's Hussein Mohammed at his Karen home.
Among the controversial statements that the DP made was an assertion on matters corruption.
According to Ruto, "corruption cannot stop a leader from delivering" their mandate.
“Has DCI told you that William Ruto has called him? Or that I interfered with investigations?... I have not said investigations should stop. What I have said is that people should not use the investigations to run a political narrative against Jubilee” ~ DP Ruto #NewsNight pic.twitter.com/yTEgJbQdY4
On Corruption and Cartels
Ruto decried that there are people who want to ‘hijack’ the fight against corruption and politicize it.
"We do not want to be pushed, like in the last term, to dismiss people on account of allegations," Ruto asserted.
"When you see politicians who are not witnesses, not investigators neither are they lawyers all over suddenly talking about who is corrupt, then as DP I have to come in, stop the 'hijacking'.
"We must take this war to its logical conclusion within the basis of the law," he asserted.
DCI and the War on Corruption
The DP appeared to dismiss investigations into the the multi-billion Arror and Kimwarer dam projects scandal by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
"You want to tell me, that we can lose Ksh21 billion in one transaction: Is that a government we are running or a casino?
"You want me to sit and allow that kind of lie to continue? I'm the DP. I owe it to Kenyans to set the record straight," he indicated.
Ruto, nevertheless, steered clear from dragging DCI boss George Kinoti into the conversation.
"I am the Deputy President , the Deputy CEO. I do not make statements in vain. I will not talk about the DCI in this interview," he indicated.
On Being Victimised in the War on Corruption
When Hussein sought to know whether Ruto felt targeted in the war against corruption where his name has been widely mentioned, the DP answered in the contrary.
"I do not feel ‘targeted’. We must be objective in the fight against corruption.
"The war on corruption is a war about integrity. A war on integrity without integrity ceases to be a war," the DP noted.
The Deputy President further indicated that he has nonetheless been a victim of public condemnation.
"Many people have accused me of all manner of things. These accusations are not new.
"When I was supporting the former PM , I was a good guy, when I was not supporting him, I became the ‘high priest of corruption’.
On Firing CSs Linked to Corruption
Echoing President Uhuru Kenyatta's remarks against "blanket and public condemnation" of the Cabinet Secretaries adversely mentioned in scandals, Ruto maintained that every one would be given fair hearing.
Ruto also accused the media of driving specific agenda and failing to be objective in the war against corruption.
"From where I sit as DP, if I find a false narrative in the media, it would be irresponsible of me not to correct it," he quipped.
On Kitaeleweka and Tanga Tanga
Ruto maintained that Jubilee is a united party. "There is a small section of people ‘kitaeleweka or something’ hanging out with NASA. That is all that is there".
When questioned on the ‘tanga tanga’ comment by the President Uhuru, Ruto chose to address those propagating that he was reprimanded.
"I take offence with the people who want to portray my boss in the wrong light. I do not take that lightly," he indicated.
“You want to tell me, that we can lose 21 B in one transaction: Is that a gov't we are running or a casino? You want me to sit & allow that kind of lie to continue? I'm the DP. I owe it to Kenyans to set the record straight” ~ DP Ruto on Arror & Kimwarer dams#NewsNight pic.twitter.com/tGChhEWJEa
