Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Tuesday distanced himself from allegations that Adani Group Limited sponsored former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s campaign in 2012 when he contested the presidency against former President Mwai Kibaki.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Kalonzo clarified that he was not privy to the information of how and where the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader acquired the funds he used in campaigning for his presidency.
Kalonzo further stated that as Odinga’s running mate at the time, it was not his responsibility to know where the presidential candidate acquired his funding for the campaigns. The former Vice President also dismissed claims that he knew and interacted with the Indian conglomerate, Adani Group Limited.
"I can tell you that I wouldn’t know the presidential candidate's source of funds because when you have a presidential candidate, how you organise your finances is all left to you. I have no idea who Adani is, I have never met them,” Kalonzo clarified.
The Wiper party leader further compared his situation to Odinga's running mate in 2012 to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s current situation, stating that DP Gachagua might not have the full knowledge about how President Ruto funded his campaigns in 2022.
According to Kalonzo, a joint ticket did not necessarily mean a joint financing stating that what mattered most was the ambitious goal of clinching the top seats in government.
"Listen, perhaps it is related to what we are discussing, maybe Gachagua did not know how William Ruto funded his campaign. It is not always that because you are the running mate you bring all your money in one basket, a joint ticket does not mean joint financing," Kalonzo stated.
Kalonzo noted that on several occasions, he was Raila Odinga's running mate and was focused on making the former Azimio leader the next president and never questioned the former Prime Minister about the sources of his financing.
"My mind was focused on making Raila Odinga the president, and I trusted his ability to fundraise and he found it appropriate to assist his running mate to fund his agent. I am never the type of person, and I think this is where the problem is between Rigathi Gachagua and William Ruto," the Wiper party leader revealed.
Kalonzo's clarification comes against the backdrop of Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo's controversial sentiments claiming that Raila Odinga's decision to support Adani Group's projects in his recent press briefing was driven by the fact that Adani allegedly sponsored the former Prime Minister's candidature during the previous elections.
Maanzo further alleged how the Indian company compromised some of the top political figures in the country to win multi-billion tenders such as the revamp of the country's main airport.
"It was one of the companies sponsoring his campaigns to become the president in 2012. It is a bigger plot and that is why there are no procurements. If everything were to be serious then everything would be on the table," Maanzo alleged.
